Kenya dominates inaugural East Africa Wrestling Championships in Nairobi

Kenya has won the inaugural East Africa Regional Development Tournament (EAREDT) in Amateur Wrestling last weekend in Nairobi by clinching

Kenya scooped 121 points after excelling in both the Freestyle and Beach Wrestling categories that had both the Juniors from under 15, 17, 20 categories and seniors in both men and women to win the first ever East Africa Amateur Wrestling Championships.

It was staged on home soil, something that national team coach and Technical Director Linus Masheti says has set the standards high in the region.

“Most of our medals came in the seniors while our juniors who we call cadets have registered mixed results. It shows that we are somewhere in between good and average,” noted Masheti.

“Our main intention now and focus will go to the school-going children as we aim for the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal,” said Masheti on Sunday after the conclusion of Beach Wrestling at Strathmore University in Nairobi.

Surprise package Burundi came in second with 16 points, as neighbors Tanzania finished the podium spots with nine points in third place.

Uganda and Mauritius both had four points and were ranked fourth and fifth respectively, as Sudan closed the ranking chapter with a point.

Kenya had 45 points in Beach Wrestling, Burundi amassed nine points, Tanzania three points and Mauritius two.

“This competition has tested our endurance and tactical approach for the game. We need more of such competitions either home or abroad because they prepare us for international events like the Olympics which I have missed and also by so doing, we are going to raise the standards of Wrestling in East Africa, " said Beach Wrestling gold medalist Mathayo Mahabila, who also won a bronze medal during the 2023 Africa Beach Wrestling Games in Tunisia.

Kenya Amateur Wrestling Association (KAWA) President Anthony Kariuki and Secretary General Erick Walucho both agreed that following the successful regional Championships, the local association in conjunction with the World Amateur Wrestling governing body will organize more events across Kenya in a bid to develop the sport.

“This is the way to go and we have to thank United World Wrestling for funding this program here in Kenya. We hope that this will be a regular thing, doing it at least thrice a year as we target the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” said Kariuki.

Development Director at United World Wrestling (UWW) Deqa Diamkey was quick to emphasize that KAWA has pledged to support Kenya for the next coming three years to host the East Africa Wrestling Championships, a project that also includes coaching courses, referees training, youth tournaments and camps aimed at promoting Amateur Wrestling in Kenya and the East African region.

As the first ever East Africa region armature Wrestling Championships came to a close in Nairobi, 150 athletes from six countries have proved their worth on the floor mat and the sand in a bid to secure the region's top honorary titles in both men and women, but all eyes will now be on Kenya with the UWW funding that is aimed at developing wrestling talents in the country and across the East Africa region.