adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
NINE karatekas are early next month expected to head for Bulgaria to battle it out in the World Kyokushin Union Championships. The event is scheduled for October 4 to 6 with participants from various full contact styles expected to take part in the global event. Zimbabwe Karate Union technical director for full contact styles, Tendayi Mutikani, said preparations were in full gear and they were hoping to send nine fighters for the championships.
Participants will fight for honours in nine categories ranging from Under-65kg to Under-95kg.
“On the technical side we are okay, everything is progressing well and we have been having our squad training at Empire Gym and Raylton.
“I think we are getting there in terms of preparations and we do not have injuries.
“Our worry now is the air tickets, so far we have six tickets and we need to send nine fighters and some officials because what we want is to field one fighter per category but in the event that we fail to get enough tickets we will be forced to send a smaller number determined by the tickets we have.
“We will give first preference to the athletes,” said Mutikani.
The team is made up of seasoned and upcoming fighters.
It features former world champion, Samson Muripo, Mugove Muhambi, Tawanda Mufundisi, Admire Chingozhoro, Naison Chituva, Brian Chiringa, Tinashe Matika and the Mucheni brothers — Austin and Robson.
After the championships in Bulgaria, Zimbabwe will be hoping to compete at the International Karate Organisation Kyokushin Kaikan World So-Kyokushin tournament in China on October 20.
Online Reporter