Muchatuta speaks on Zone V1

Mbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Gymnastics Association vice-president, Chris Muchatuta, says the Zone VI Gymnasts Championships held in Harare recently provided a tough but good experience for them.
The Zimbabwe teams’ performance was encouraging this year as they won eight gold medals, 11 silver and 23 bronze.
“It was tough but good experience for the Zimbabwe teams and we are so proud of them for their excellent performance.
“The competition was very high but they managed to win a number of gold medals.

“I am very happy with all the participants, the Zone VI ran according to our plan to raise the Zimbabwe flag high.
“Looking at how the participants handled themselves at the event, it clearly showed that the sport is developing well and it also showed that we have a lot of talent,” said Muchatuta.

Zimbabwe saved the best for the last day as the junior boys artistic gymnastics team went on a rampage in the medal chase.
The hosts picked gold when the star performer, Privilidge Sande, got two gold medals, one for vault and the other for rings.
Moses January added gold in the floor routine.

Sande also collected silver in the pommel section and a bronze for the H-bar.
January completed the haul by picking bronze in the P- bar category.

The junior men’s artistic team also won gold as the overall winners.
In the men’s senior artistic gymnastics Ronald Basikoro added six bronze medals and capped it with a hard-won gold in the vault.
The men’s artistic team came home third, in overall placings, and got a bronze.

The Zimbabwe team of Jesse Ansley, Nina Katsande and George Sampson won bronze in the junior women’s artistic gymnastics.
On the last day of the championships, the hosts collected five gold, seven silver and 18 bronze medals.

The top performers will have a chance to compete at the Africa Championships to be held in South Africa and Egypt.
Zimbabwe Gymnastics Committee public relations manager, Simba Katsande, said they were encouraged by these results posted by the athletes. Zimbabwe Gymnastics is mainly run on a voluntary basis.

“Lack of funding is hindering development of the sport in the country.
“Most of Zimbabwe’s gold medals were won by gymnasts who are sponsored by the coach, this is because he saw talent and potential in these young men and took it upon himself to train them and make them ready for the competition.

“Some of the participants come from places like Chitungwiza and Dzivarasekwa, he gives them bus fare every day and pay school fees for some of them.

“Zimbabwe needs to develop or build gymnasiums in these areas and tap the vast talent that exists in the low density suburbs.”