Sundaymail Editor
Evelyn Matimbire
YOUNG karateka Ashley Khuddu looks to have quite the schedule in 2023.
Still smarting from her recent seventh-place finish at the Africa Youth tournament in Durban, South Africa, she has about six big tournaments to make her mark and get to the next stage of her career. They are the Japanese Ambassador Cup, the Zimbabwe National Champion of Champions, Gaborone Open Karate International Championships, AUSC Region Five Karate Championships, African Games (formerly All-Africa Games) and the World Karate Championships, which is the big one.
However, she is mainly targeting the African Games and the World Karate Championships.
According to her coach Winston Nyanhete, although she has the talent, desire and heart to qualify for both, her major challenge are resources needed for the competitions.
“Karate does not have proper funding, especially for trips and competitions abroad,” he said.
“For most of her preparations, she has had to pay from her own pocket and mostly rely on well-wishers. These include friends and family, who chip in whenever they can.
“Also, we don’t have proper gyms for karate in Zimbabwe; the floor mats used in karate are scarce, and not every space available is suitable.”
Khuddu’s spirited performance at the Africa Youth tournament last month saw her become the only competitor from Southern Africa in the top 10.
The athlete and her coach Nyanhete first met at the RBZ Sports Club dojo in 2011.
“Ashely officially joined karate in 2011 at the age of 12 and got an early start to competitive fighting,” said the coach.
“Since then, she has won countless medals at national, regional and international levels.
“Her notable success was at the World Goju Ryu Karate Championships in 2013.
“After that, she then went to Cape Town and won a bronze medal in the individual Kumite event.” The karateka shares passion for the sport with her father, Goodson Khuddu.
The two used to watch Japanese martial arts movies together, with their favourite being “Black Belt Angels”.
She said she became hooked to the sport after watching the 1994 flick.
Khuddu’s family have always been very supportive of her career.
“My parents have been great about everything; they have allowed me to be me and express myself.
“Having their support has really helped my career.
“They have never made me feel like, because I am a girl, I can’t do this and that,” she said.
Nyanhete believes there is so much the athlete can achieve with the right tutelage and support.
“Ashley needs to compete more internationally, as this will give her more confidence and help her improve her craft.
“Local competitions are good, but they are not enough,” he said.
“There are a lot of things she needs in order to compete internationally, things like transportation, equipment and accommodation when on tour. All these things are rather expensive.”
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