Andrew
Online Reporter
NATIONAL badminton champion Thabani Mathe put on another fine show on court to defend his Zimbabwe Open title when he edged Paul Kopolo 2-1 in the final at Sunrise Sports Club in Harare on Saturday.
Mathe, who has set his sights on the Olympic Games in 2024, shrugged off competition from a small field of competitors to reclaim the title.
The event marked the return of the Zimbabwe Badminton Open, which was last held in 2018.
“I feel overjoyed. Defending your throne is never easy; it takes a lot of heart, effort, mental resilience and hard work.
“At the moment, I am set to begin my quest on the international stage,” he said.
“I am using these tournaments as part of preparations to compete in the Olympic qualifiers for the 2024 Summer Olympics.”
After conquering on the local front, Mathe is now set for the African circuit games, which will be played in countries including Cameroon, Benin, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.
There are also some few European tournaments such as the Bulgaria and Cyprus Internationals, which could also provide Mathe with a platform to test his skills.
Online Reporter