adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
UCI BMX World champion Rebekah Oberholzer is expected to feature in today’s first race of BMX bicycle racing at Old Georgians Sports Club in Harare.
The eight-year-old is expected to give tough competition to the rest of the participants.
Daniel Johnson, a champion in the 12-year-olds category, could also hog the limelight.
Oberholzer has been filled with more than 40 medals in the insatiable appetite for world titles in her budding career.
The eight-year-old is among the 13 riders who are going to taking part at World Championships in Belgium in July.
BMX racing is a fast-paced and exciting sport open to riders of all ages and abilities and that is the reason why coach Tafi Machingaidze is urging all those interested to come and watch the race today at Old Georgians at 5pm.
The national team for BMX is also set to take part and in the Open category of the 17-year-olds and over and the event is likely to be competitive.
Tawanda Marova and Penias Tendani are among the top contenders in this category.
The riders are set to race in eight categories which will be grouped according to their age-groups.
“This is going to be the first race of the second term because we follow the school terms and it is going to see new faces.
“It is sad that the sport is not popular in Zimbabwe. Only a few individuals understand and take part in it.
“It is also going to be exciting to see who kept their fitness since we have a big competition coming ahead of us.
“We have 13 participants who are going to take part in this year’s World Championships in Belgium and we want to see if the fitness is good or not.
“I have been in this sport for many years and I love it seeing young newcomers develop their skills from grassroots,” Machingaidze said.
Zimbabwe has been sending a team to UCI BMX World Championships every year since 2003. Machingaidze and his team have been hosting training sessions every weekend.
Online Reporter