Kickboxing takes Senegal by storm despite tight funds

Dakar: Senegal s new world kickboxing champion Mouhamed Tafsir Ba smashes an uppercut into the punching bag in a dilapidated room in a military barrac...

Dakar: Senegal's new world kickboxing champion Mouhamed Tafsir Ba smashes an uppercut into the punching bag in a dilapidated room in a military barracks. Bare-chested, muscles glistening with sweat, he works on the bag, delivering punches at a dizzying speed.

This is the punishing regime that helped Ba win the -90kg category at the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) World Cup event in Uzbekistan in September, giving Senegal the first world title in its history in a sport that is attracting a growing number of fans in the west African country.

In the women's competition, his compatriot Ndeye Khady Diallo won a second consecutive silver in the lightweight -60kg class.

Those results show the rapid growth of a discipline that only appeared in Senegal around 30 years ago.

Kickboxing is developing fast in the country, driven by a handful of tireless enthusiasts, despite a lack of resources.