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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S martial artists did not disappoint at the just-ended 11th edition of the Gaborone Open International Karate Championships held at Botho University in Botswana over the Easter weekend.
The Zimbabwean team was made up of 15 athletes who managed to scoop nine medals at the four-day event that ran from April 6 to 10.
More than 200 karatekas from South Africa, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique and the host nation took part.
Zimbabwe were represented by Tishana Sekerani, Ruvarashe Kasumba, Rufaro Matanhire, Brenda Dube and Leona Munyaradzi as well as Juanita Kadzombe, who all won medals.
The men’s section was represented by Kwekwe-based top karateka Tanyaradzwa Ziwira, who also did well in his category.
Bradley Kadzombe won silver medal in the Junior male 14-15 years Kata competition while Fortune Nyabanga won bronze in the senior men over 75kg kumite.
Ten-year old Kadzombe was Zimbabwe’s first medalist, winning gold in the 10-11 years’ girls kumite category, before Kasumba added another gold by winning the 16-17 years under 48kg girls kumite.
While Zimbabwe won medals in both the male and female categories, it was in the latter section that the country shone brightest with the seven-member girls team winning seven medals. Among the female athletes that won medals were junior national team captain Sekerani who competed in two categories, winning silver in the Under-21 girls kumite, and a bronze medal in the senior women kumite.
Matanhire and Dube also came back with silver medals in the 16-17 years’ girls kumite, with the former’s medal coming in the under 61kg category, while the latter secured hers in the under 48kg category. Team captain Sekerani was delighted with how the ladies team acquitted themselves on the international stage.
“It was a tough and amazing experience for us. Our team had a lot of new athletes who were participating for the first time in this tournament. But as the captain of the team I was impressed with my team’s performances.
“It’s not easy to go for an international tournament and come out with a medal, but my team managed to do just that and I am happy. We know there is still a lot of room for improvement and this tournament helped us a lot to realise our points of weaknesses and what we need to improve as a team.
“So as we prepare for the junior region five championships tournament, I think this tournament has helped us a lot to prepare and know what to expect and we are confident that if we continue to work hard we will achieve great things,” said Sekerani.
Online Reporter