Fans left asking for more as inaugural Beach Games end in Malindi
The inaugural Kenya Beach Games officially came to an end on Sunday after enthusiasts were treated to an array of sports disciplines including Taekwondo, Sprint Rowing, Individual Kata/Karate, Boxing, Dhow Racing, Aquathlon, Judo, Ajua, 3X3 Basketball and Surfing.
With over 800 athletes from all over the country participating, the Kenya Beach Games ended as a dream come true with medals and trophies being awarded to the top individuals and teams respectively.
The hundreds of fans also brought the excitement all through the three days and nights with 3x3 Basketball being played under the floodlights, offering uniqueness for sports fans and enthusiasts.
The games began at 9am on each of the days and continued until 2am. Highlights included the aquathlon, wrestling and boxing, the dhow racing, a demonstration sport, and the first-ever ITF World Ranking Beach Tennis Tournament.
Top-level athletes competed in a range of sports, showcasing their skills and abilities in a stunning beachfront setting with 100m Commonwealth and Africa Champion Ferdinand Omanyala gracing the event in support of NOC-K.
“When I heard the news, I was extremely excited and decided to make my way down here in Malindi. I love seeing sports grow and I’m in awe of what the Games have done. Bringing all these athletes together at a multi-sport event, we haven’t seen this before and I’m thrilled for the future.” Said the Crowd-puller.
The second day saw all teams sports get trophies. The 3x3 Basketball team was aggressive as Twende, Dumas and Rams won the men’s category respectively and Swans, Hawks, and Sparks won the Women’s category. Basketball has already qualified for the World Beach Games to be held in Bali.
In Beach Soccer the home team in the men’s category Watamu won against Likoni-4-0 while women Moving the Goal Post (MTG) won against the Mombasa Olympic 2-1 to seal a hard match.
In Beach Handball, Pwani Wolves won the men’s category whilst Coast Queens won the women ranking.
The Games which were fully funded by NOC-K have seen sponsors and Partners including Kilifi County Government, Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Arts, Royal Media Services, Coca-Cola Africa and Check-Ups Medical make the dream come true.
In addition to the sports themselves, the Kenya Beach Games will also feature a range of food and drink vendors, live music, and cultural performances throughout the day, providing a festive atmosphere for athletes and spectators alike
“We are thrilled to host the first-ever Kenya Beach Games, and we couldn’t be more excited about the range of sports and events on offer,” said NOCK Secretary-General, Francis Mutuku. “From traditional sports like boxing and judo to unique events like dhow racing and Ajua, there’s truly something for everyone at this year’s games.”
“We hope this event will help put Kenya on the map as a top destination for beach sports and tourism.”
