adminLovemore Zigara Sports Correspondent
MR Novice 2012 Nunurai Masosonere finally struck the right chord to win the newly named Mr Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships and Ironman 2016 held at the Longcheng Plaza in Harare on Saturday night.
The event was previously known as Mr and Ms Ironman Zimbabwe.
Masosonere took over the crown from Botswana-based champion Chienderamwano, who has taken a sabbatical from the sport.
On a night of surprises, Mr Novice 2014 finalist Gideon Teguru came second, while Gweru-based veteran Isaac “Sugar” Chimuchenga was third, the same placing he achieved in last year’s event in Kadoma.
Juliet Chimbodza scooped the Ms Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships and Ironman unchallenged, taking the crown from Regina Jonga, who did not participate in this year’s contest.
Masosonere attributed his victory to hard work, saying it was the beginning of bigger things to come.
“Since winning Mr Novice, I have always been coming too close in these major competitions, but this time around I pushed myself to the extreme and I am happy that the hard work paid off,” said Masosonere.
“I believe winning this competition will open doors to bigger things in my career and I am now looking forward to Mr Zimbabwe.”
In the senior men’s wheelchair bodybuilding category, Bulawayo’s Marko Mwale clinched his second consecutive crown, relegating Manners Mukuviri into second and Pearson Tazvivinga third position.
Mwale said he would now turn his focus to regional competitions.
“It feels good to win once again, especially when the competition keeps getting tighter like we witnessed today. I am going to keep working hard so that I also compete in regional competitions,” Mwale said.
Fern Roses upstaged favourite Shantel Batch-Greenland to claim the women’s fitness bikini in which they were the only entrants.
Senior men bodybuilding
1. Nunurai Masosonere
2. Gideon Teguru
3. Isaac Chimuchenga
Junior men Under 23 bodybuilding
1. Bruce Kakono
2. Lee Dzinzi
3. Delvin Page
Women bikini fitness
1. Fern Roses
2. Shantel Batch
Women body fitness
1. Juliet Chimbodza
Men’s Fitness
1. Masimba Njamajiwa
2. Tinotenda Ryan Gumbo
3. Givemore Kamuronjo
Men’s Physique
1. Simbarashe Godwin Mhaka
2. Pardon Dube
3. Brian Saundombe
Junior men bodybulding
1. Rodney Kuziva
2. Zibusiso Kumalo
3. W Siziba
Wheelchair men bodybuilding
1. Marko Mwale
2. Manners Mukuviri
3. Pearson Tazvivinga. — @lavuzigara1
Online Reporter