Bino-ryu Karate Championships on today

in Harare for the Bino-ryu National Invitational Karate Championships today.
The competition is ending tomorrow with karatekas set to battle it out in 15 categories.
Participants in the semi-contact section will compete in six age-groups – Under-7 -8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 and the Open category while in the full-contact category fighters will compete in eight weight categories ranging from the Under-50kg to 85kg and above.
The event is open to all karate styles practiced in this country and is expected to feature fighters from Triangle, Gweru, Kadoma, Masvingo, Kwekwe, Chinhoyi and Harare.
The competition comes after the bino-ryu style were given the greenlight to host the event last year by their Indian Grandmaster, Santanu Srinivasan, and had two preliminary competitions in October last year and early this year as part of their preparations for today’s big event.
The Zimbabwean Branch Chief of the bino-ryu karate style, Shihan Jairos Manjoro, said participants from outside Harare were expected to arrive yesterday.
“All styles have confirmed their participation and we expect fighters from outside Harare to come in on Friday (yesterday). However, we have not yet finalised their accommodation.
“Each style is expected to field 30 fighters. All in all we are looking at more than 200 juniors and seniors for this event,” Manjoro said, adding that they were looking forward to a competitive competition.
“This is going to be a tough competition because we now have some good fighters in this country.
“The styles have of late been producing a number of good fighters,” Manjoro said.
Some of the fighters that are expected to battle it out for the gold medals in the invitational championships include Winston Nyanhete of the dentokan style, David Dube and Samantha Muchike of JKA, Innocent Rumwe of the kimura shukokai, Justin Mashiri and Chicca Ndiripo of JSK style.
Other styles that will take part in the event include the JSSK, JKA shotokan, ashihara, extreme contact and kyokushin.
The winners will get certificates and medals for their efforts.
Meanwhile, a karate referees’ course will run in conjunction with the championships.
The course started yesterday morning at Monomotapa Crowne Plaza and is being conducted by the Indian Grandmaster, S. Srinivasan, who is also set to grace the national invitational championships today and tomorrow.
The referees had their theory lessons yesterday focusing on the rules and regulations of the sport.
They will be assessed today and tomorrow during the competition as part of their practical lessons.
Some of the referees that are taking part in the course include Zimbabwe Karate Union president Simba Chikutu and his vice Colleta Mhishi, former national technical director Amos Chihlava and branch chief for kyokushin-kan karate style, Tendai Marange.