Kwekwe karate tourney on today

Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ALL is set for the seventh edition of the Japan Karate Association of Zimbabwe Invitational National Karate Championships at Kwekwe’s Queens Sports Club this morning. Thomas Manyeruke and Tamuka Ziwira dominated last year’s event. This year the athletes expected to shine include Nicole Musariri, Tanaka Mazhata, Blessing Kumire, Innocent Ntini, Partson Mutombeni, Nyasha Kumire and Neddy Mukonza.

The tournament is the brainchild of Shepherd Ziwira who is the JKAZ chief instructor, Midlands Karate Union technical director and a senior Zimbabwe Karate Union referee. The event is expected to attract more than 100 seasoned and upcoming karatekas from the semi-contact styles — Shotokan, Deintokan, Shitoryu, Sankukai, Shukokai and Gorjuryu. Participants are expected to come from hosts Kwekwe, Gweru, Masvingo, Triangle, Bulawayo, Kadoma and Harare with the University of Zimbabwe Karate Club. Last year Kwekwe, with 29 medals, were the overall winners. Harare (21), Gweru (12), Bulawayo (6), Triangle (3) and Kadoma (1) took the other positions.