Meru Tae kwon-do tyro Kendi eyes Olympics

Eight year-old Sarah Kendi Kimathi has chartered a path that few in her native Meru County have crossed as she aims to be a martial arts master in Tae kwon-Do.

The blue belt holder was part of Kenya’s junior Tae kwon do team that travelled to South Korea and the only one from her region after beginning the sport through the mentorship of her father, Michael Kimathi.

The class three pupil at Chukim Academy in Meru County is aiming to make the national team for the Olympics one day after tae kwon do was included in the Summer Games roster from Sydney 2000.

“My father who is also my coach believed in me and he started training me to protect myself as a girl child,” the budding martial artist said.

“I’m impressed by her discipline,” the father added.

Her early success has inspired her age mates to take up the sport, earning her father cum coach extra income by training other pupils.

She has represented her County at the Open Tae-kwon do Championship at Nairobi’s Makini School in June last year where she won medals in two categories.

Kendi scooped gold in Kirugu category for seven year-olds and bronze in the Kata category and this earned her a ticker to represent Kenya in South Korea.

“I’m excited I will be travelling abroad to participate in the competitions and hopes to emerge the winner.”

She qualified for Makini during the Meru Prisons Tae-kwon do Open and Kenya Methodist University Tae-kwon do championships last year.

Kendi had problems in raising funds to travel to Korea but made it through well wishers where she went ahead to medal at the global stage.

It was her first time to travel outside the country in what was an exciting experience as she landed in a continent where martial arts were born.

Kendi will be a participant in a talent show at Nairobi’s Safari Park on Saturday when a group from South Korea called Kukkiwon will be showing their craft in a show they will present her with the red belt she won in Korea.

She hails from Kiamariga Village in Buuri Sub-County where she lives with her parents and two siblings and besides excelling in her sport, Kendi ranks among the top ten in her class.

“I’m looking forward to once more showcase my talent in my country as I receive my Red Belt.”

Besides the Olympics, she hopes to be a world champion in future.

“I have the will to win and desire to succeed.”