- The first edition was held last year
- There were over 1600 athletes involved in the second edition
- Some of the sportmen are using the event as preparation for Olympic qualifiers
The second edition of the Kenya Beach Games was hosted in Malindi by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), with the extravaganza returning to the Buntwani Beachfront in Malindi.
An increased number of participants saw close to 1600 athletes compete across 14 different beach sports. Among the sports in competition in Malindi included Aquathlon, Cycling, Beach Wrestling, Sprint Rowing, Kayaking, Open Water Swimming, Judo, 3×3 Basketball, Beach Soccer, Beach Handball, Beach Tennis, Beach Volleyball, Taekwondo, and the debut of Beach Hockey.
NOCK conducted an Administrative Course in collaboration with the Kilifi County Department of Sports, just before the games began, as a way of capacity building. This initiative equipped 60 county administrators with the necessary skills to ensure the seamless execution of the games.
The men’s football tournament witnessed fierce competition, with eight formidable teams vying for glory. Mombasa Heroes, defending champions Watamu, Yanga, and Baobab emerged as the top contenders, advancing to the semi-finals.
NOCK ensures seamless competition at the start
On their way to the semis, Watamu routed Bandari Youth 5-2, Mombasa Heroes defeated hosts Buntwani 5-3 while Shells sailed through to the semis after beating Baobab United 1-0 in the penalty shoot having played to a 4-4 all draw in the regulation time. Yanga booked the last four after defeating Elcontrol 5-3 in the post penalty shoot-out having played to a 3-3 all draw. Mombasa Heroes have a date with Watamu in the first semi, while Yanga will face off with Baobab in the other semi-final.
Action in Aquathlon at the Kenya Beach games
In the women’s football competition, there were eight teams vying for glory, with defending champions MTG United, Mombasa Olympic, Fortune, and Ocean D securing their spots in the semi-finals.
Champions MTG defeated Mombasa Queens 6-3. Olympic Mombasa overwhelmed Kilifi Queens 5-3 as Ocean D held their nerves to beat Malindi Queens 4-3. Fortunate reigned supreme against Bull Starlets 5-2. Mombasa Olympic will play Ocean in one of the semi-finals, while MTG will face off with Fortune in another semis.
MTG beat Mombasa Olympic 2-1 to win the first edition that was held at the same venue last year.
Beach Hockey makes debut
Beach hockey made its debut at the Kenya Beach Games. Daikyo Heroes and Mvita from Mombasa seize early semi-final berths following impressive performances in the pool matches.
Action in beach hockey at the Kenya Beach games
Daikyo who recently earned promotion to the Kenya Hockey Union Premier League, from Super League, defeated Black Tigers 2-0, before they humiliated Mombasa Sports Club 5-1. Daikyo would then beat Blue Ocean Chief 4-1 before they wrapped up their pool “A” match with a win against Black Tigers 2-0. In pool “B” Mvita overwhelmed Tunza Sports 4-1, then played to a 2-2 draw against Mombasa West before they beat Malindi Hockey Club 3-1.
Black Tigers who finished second in pool “A” will tackle Mombasa West who finished third in pool “B” in the play-off, while Malindi Club who finished second in pool “B” have a date with Blue Ocean who finished third in pool “A”. The winners in the play-offs will join Daikyo and Mvita in the last four.
In the wrestling, athletes competed across four categories for both men and women. The intensity continued in the junior categories, where young talents showcased their prowess.
In the women’s seniors finals, Ugandan Harriet Akite claimed victory with a 4-2 win against Kenyan Emily Wanyama in the 50 kgs weight category.
Mahabila conquers in men’s wrestling
In the men’s category, Mathayo Mahabila, a bronze medalist in the 2023 Africa Beach Games, emerged triumphant in the 70 kgs weight category against Brian Oloo. Meanwhile, silver medalist Mark Onguyesi secured victory against James Omondi in the 86 kgs category.
In another gripping match, Ugandan Rodgers Mukyanda triumphed over local favorite Levis Simiyu in the men’s 70 kgs weight category.
The juniors category witnessed thrilling contests as Alex Meja clinched victory against Isaac Juma in the boys category, while Jemima Wanjala, a form two student from Devki Secondary School, emerged victorious against Yvonne Lusike in the girls category.
In the cadets category (15-17 years), Stephen Mugarisa from Ruiru Secondary School stole the show with a hard-fought victory against Calvin Nyatuka from St. Elizabeth Lunao Secondary School. In the girls category, Joy Lichuma from Namawanga Secondary School secured victory against Janet Ingwesi from Githunguri Ranching School.
The seniors have utilized the event as a platform to qualify for the Africa Wrestling 2024 Beach Games, set to be held in Dakar, Senegal in June. Meanwhile, the juniors (cadets) have also earned their spots or the 2026 Youth Olympics, which will also be hosted in Senegal following this year’s Africa Beach Games.
Handball also offers competition
Action in beach handball at the Kenya Beach games
In handball, Kilifians, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Equity Bank, and Saints secured semi-final slots in the men’s category after intense group matches concluded on Saturday.
Kilifians will face off against KRA in one semi-final, while Equity will battle Mombasa Saints in the other. Notable victories propelled these teams to the last four, with Kilifians showcasing their dominance against various opponents.
In the women’s category, Glorious Queens will clash with Coast Queens in one semi-final, while Pwani Wolves will challenge Malindi Masters in the other. Exciting matches unfolded as teams fought fiercely for a spot in the semi-finals.
In addition to these enthralling competitions, the event also featured Kayaking, Rowing, Judo, and Baseball 5, showcasing the immense talent and passion within Kenya’s sports community.
The Kenya Beach Games serve as a crucial platform for athletes to showcase their skills, with teams such as the seniors wrestling eyeing qualification for the Africa Wrestling 2024 Beach Games in Dakar, Senegal, while the juniors aim for a berth in the 2026 Youth Olympics.
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