NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 24 – Three Kung Fu masters from Kenya will earn a fully paid trip to China to undergo a week-long intensified training on the sport courtesy of Pay Television Company StarTimes media.
The three will be selected from a shortlist of 10 drawn from local Kung Fu clubs in Kiambu, Muthurwa, Kangemi, Kayole and Majengo during the trails scheduled for October 29 at the Kiambu Madaraka Gardens.
The lucky three will have a life time opportunity to train at the Beijing International Arts School in December.
Speaking when making the announcement, StarTimes vice president Mark Lisboa noted the training efforts will culminate to a major event dubbed the StarTimes Kung Fu Festival set to take place November 5 at the KICC Comesa Grounds where local Kung Fu clubs and visiting masters from Beijing will showcase their talents in the sport.
“This marks the start of our development of Kung Fu sports in the country, the training of the local Kung Fu clubs will ensure they adopt the sport’s best practices while setting the stage to grow the awareness through the StarTimes Kung Fu Festival,” Lisboa said.
The team of 10 Kung Fu masters from Beijing International Arts School will later conduct training for the Kenyan clubs at the KICC Grounds November 3 inpreparation for the Festival.
“This is the best opportunity we have had as kung Fu professionals in Kenya to grow our talents, the StarTimes Kung Fu will act as a strong platform to further grow the awareness of the sport while exposing us to the best practices gained from the China based Kung Fu masters,” Joseph Ngaruiya, who is a representative e of the clubs said.
“We urge our President Uhuru Kenyatta to be our patron and assist us participate in regional and international events. We also need to have a federation that will make things easier for us,” he added.