adminheld in Kazakhstan recently.
Muripo led a team of four fighters including Lovemore Nyamutswa, George Mutambo and Malvery Muyambo.
Muyambo, who was competing in the light weight category, lost in the first round of the tournament while Nyamutswa and Mutambo lost in the quarter-finals in the middleweight and open weight divisions respectively.
The former champion also won the most spirited fighter award in the same tournament.
Muripo beat Matosyan Agvan of Russia in his opening match before overpowering Gruenwald Artur of Germany in the second round to reach the last eight.
He went on to beat Inoue Masashi of Japan in the quarter-finals and defeated Unashhotlov Arsen of Russia in semi-finals. However, he lost to Suiyegov Ruslan of Kazakhstan in the finals.
The 33-year-old was satisfied with his performance but was not happy with the referees’ decision to award the match to Kazakhstan instead of extending the finals since it was a balanced match.
“I was supposed to win because there should have been an extension of the final but they (referees) chose to give it to Kazakhstan.
“The match was balanced and I was on top of the situation in the last quarter of the bout but the home town decision was a disadvantage,” said Muripo.
Muripo who is also the technical director of the Kyokushin Union of Zimbabwe commended the other fighters for putting up “a good performance”.
“Everyone put up a good performance. Zimbabwe proved to be a force to reckon with in the world of kyokushin, we are a pillar in karate,” said Muripo.
The team arrived back from Kazakhstan last Friday.
Muripo made history in 2009 when he grabbed World Cup title in the middleweight division.
Online Reporter