Karatekas knocked out in Moscow

Moscow, Russia, at the weekend where its two fighters got knocked out in the first round.
In Moscow, Zimbabwe was represented by four young fighters – Marlvin Chiredzero, Verily Muhambi, Clayton Chiredzero and Junior Gathry Chiredzero.
Marlvin Chiredzero was entered into the boys Under-13 age-group while Muhambi fought in the boys Under-16 section.

Clayton and Junior Gathry Chiredzero were the reserves.
And according to the Branch Chief of the local kyokushin-kan style, Tendai Marange, who travelled with the four young fighters to Moscow, the team found the going tough at the two-day tournament where it failed to go beyond the first round of both the boys Under-13 and 16 sections.

“Fighters from both Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo lost in their first round while those from Zambia managed to reach the third round.
“South Africa outshone us all as one of its fighters managed to walk away with a silver medal in one of the age-groups.
“I think the weather played a part in our poor display in here in Moscow because the temperatures were -3 degrees and our young fighters couldn’t handle it,” said Marange, who was speaking from Moscow yesterday.

Marange was also not pleased with the treatment that they received from the hosts of the tournament.
“Treatment was bad (right) from the airport, hotel and even at the tournament where our coach Gathry Chiredzero ended up having an altercation with one of the officials due to some poor officiating at the competition.

“Gathry ended up paying a fine after he had hit one of the officials on the jaw,” Marange said.
The first Kyokushin-kan World Youth Championship in kumite were organised and hosted by the Kyokushin-kan Karate-Do of Russia.
More than 200 young fighters from around the globe, who practice the karate style kyokushin-kan, took part in this inaugural event.

Zimbabwe sent a six-member team, which was made up of four fighters – Marlvin Chiredzero, Muhambi, Clayton and Junior Gathry Chiredzero – and two officials – Marange and Gathry “Mbada One” Chiredzero.

It was the first time that the four young Zimbabwean fighters were representing the country outside our borders and they definitely found the going tough at the first Kyokushin-kan World Youth Championship in kumite in Moscow.