Online Reporter
Takudzwa Chitsiga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Kwekwe team, which represented Zimbabwe at the Gabs 2025 Karate Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, last weekend had a fruitful outing and returned home with a sizeable medal haul that included gold, silver and bronze.
Coach Shepherd Ziwira led a 15-member team to the championships.
The 54-year-old Ziwira also competed and led by example when winning gold and silver in the veterans’ kata and kumite categories.
Ziwira said he is happy that they managed to give junior karatekas the much-needed international exposure at the tournament.
“I am very happy that we managed to bring home more than 15 medals which ranged from gold, silver and bronze,’’ Ziwira said.
“What is interesting is that most winners were our junior athletes who do not have much experience in international tournaments.
“I also managed to compete in the veterans’ category, and I managed to win a gold and silver medal despite the fact that I last competed in an international event some 11 years ago back in 2014.
“We had a good team that has been working so hard in the Midlands Province, and they managed to make the country proud.
“Gabs Karate Championships is one of the biggest in the Southern Africa Region and we managed to do well both in individual and team events,” said Ziwira.
Rising karateka Lovemore Matune walked away with a gold and silver medal, with eight-year-old Prince Mahapa also outstanding in his category in which he won gold.
Junior Chirema a seven-year-old, won a silver medal as did Aiden Ziwira who is nine years old.
There was also a podium finish for 13-year-old Zvikomborero Moyo who brought home a silver medal.
Amber Mushimbo, Ashleigh Madekubve, Tinotenda Zindoga, Wessley Chidavarume, Lucky Dube and Brooklyn Bangidza all settled for bronze medals in their respective categories. The kata team events saw boys aged from 6-8, girls 9-11, boys 10- 13 scooping gold medals, while the boys 14-17 settled for a silver medal.
