adminLungelo Ndhlovu Sports Correspondent
TEAM Zimbabwe has bagged its first gold medal at the ongoing African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games in Bulawayo. Judoka, Gabriel Sepapati propelled Zimbabwe’s judo team to a gold medal at the ZITF Hall Five yesterday. The judo team also scooped five silver and a bronze medal.
The other medalist Alfred Mukuna got a bronze medal with the girls team settling for silver medals.
Sepapati shrugged off stiff competition and made the nation proud, as he emerged victorious in the Over 100kg category.
“I’m very happy to emerge victorious in such a stiff competition. The South African team gave us tough competition and I would like to say hats off to them.
“I will definitely use this exposure gained from these Games to develop my career as an individual because this was my first time to participate at Games like these,” said Sepapati.
Zimbabwe’s head coach Simbarashe Mashayi said he was proud of his judo team as they were first timers in these Games.
“We faced tough competition from the South Africans and I think my team did their best,” said Mashayi.
The South Africans were still too good for their opponents, bagging 14 medals, eight gold, two silver and four bronze.
Angola came second, with three gold medals, followed by Zambia who got two gold medals, one silver and three bronze medals.
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derick.khumalo