Online Reporter
Tendai Chara-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ALL is set for the 2025 Hwange Colliery Company Zimbabwe Nationals, the country’s premier body-building show, which will be held in the resort town of Victoria Falls tomorrow.
Body-builders from across the country and beyond are set to battle it out for the various prizes.
The high-profile contest has so far seen 82 participants, among them the majority of the country’s top body-builders, taking the first steps towards registration.
In a landmark deal that will bring a whole new level to body-building, the sponsor of the contest is providing free transport to Victoria Falls and accommodation to any willing contestant. A record number of contestants is therefore expected to show up.
Quiet Shangai, the National Federation of Zimbabwe Body-building and Fitness’ secretary-general, is pleased with the way the preparations for the eagerly-awaited contest are progressing.
“Preparations are going on very well, with 82 participants having gone through pre-registration. Everything that we need for the competition is in place, including the athletes and judges,” Shangai said.
The prize money for the men’s senior overall body-builder is pegged at US$5 000.
Those that are going to finish in the top six in all the categories are also going to get cash.
In the past, cash prizes were only given to the top three finishers. Bernard Groenewald, a highly respected international judge from South Africa, will lead the judges’ panel.
Among the top body-builders that have confirmed their participation are Dumiso Dhlodhlo, a two-time national champion and Nigel Maphosa, the 2019 national champion.
Gideon Teguru, the current national body-building champion has already thrown his hat into the ring.
Edward Mutero, a two-time national light-heavyweight has already registered for the event and so is Noah Dzvokora, who recently won the Harare Classic.
Nunurai Masosonere, a former Mr Ironman, has also registered for the event.
In the junior section, Ronald Manjoro, who recently won both the Harare and Manicaland Classics, will be out to try and make it three out of three. In the oversubscribed Men’s Physique category, Blessing “CC Banks” Sithole, who recently came out tops in this category at the Manicaland Classic, will battle it out against the likes of Benon Nyoni and Justin Mututumutsa, among others. Zvishavane-based Blessing Korai, who recently walked away with the Manicaland Classic Women’s Wellness title, will be up against some of the top women body-builders, among them the vastly experienced Nicola Gwindingwi.
