adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organisation will this weekend host their first senior men and women Senshuken Taikai competition in Highfield. The tournament is slated for Saturday with fighters drawn from various full-contact styles expected to compete in three categories — women open, lightweight and the open category which is over 67.5kg.
Zimbabwe So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organisation chief instructor, Samson Muripo, said they have three categories only in this tournament so that they can have more athletes in each of the weight divisions to create more fights for the participants.
“It’s because of the number of athletes we want each category to have. We want to have, at least, 32 athletes so that our fighters get used to fighting many fights like in the international tournaments.
“People should get used to the real heat of challenges that we face in international tournaments.
“So, if we have 32 people in each category, we will start from the preliminary rounds.
“Those who will be able to get into the quarter-finals, I think they will be able to go to Thokoza (in South Africa) and other regional tournaments,” said Muripo.
Muripo said so far they have more than 50 athletes from their style, IFK and Shukokai who have confirmed their participation while other styles have shown interest but are yet to confirm.
Last year they had just one local event and the So-Kyokushin chief instructor said financial constraints hinder most of their programmes.
Muripo said Saturday’s tournament will be graced by Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga.
Online Reporter