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Nkosilathi Sibanda Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE grabbed the first gold medal in the boys doubles tennis clash and went on to add two silver and two bronze medals before the tournament was suspended owing to rains at Bulawayo Athletics Club yesterday.
The pair of Ronzai Saurombe and Taremedzwa Mariga managed to score 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 over favourites, South Africans Musawenkosi Mpondi and Francis Kellerman.
This was the opening encounter of the doubles where Zimbabwe needed to pull the strings in order to compensate for the loss in the singles earlier on in the week.
Saurombe and Mariga, both students at Seward University at Kansas City, faltered in the first set, losing 3-6, only to bounce back in style, posting a 6-3 win in the second entry and a 10-7, in the tightly contested last set.
It was another moment on the podium for Team Zimbabwe in the mixed doubles as Saurombe paired with Valeria Bhunu in the second place playoff and walked away with silver. Both sailed past Mozambique’s Belmiro Augusto and Lolaudi Sumaia 6-2, 6-0.
In the girls’ doubles, South Africa had it their way past Zimbabwe’s Bhunu and Rufaro Chirewa in three sets, 7-6, 4-6, 10-7. South Africa’s Caitlin Herb and Katie Poluta were too good for the home team and rightly ended the tournament as champions.
By close of play yesterday, South Africa topped the medals table with three gold and silver. Zimbabwe is on second place with one gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
“Well, the gold came our way as promised by the boys on Wednesday. We’re thrilled by their achievement. The silver medal that came from Valeria and Rufaro is also another pleasing success.
“When we came to these Games, we had a target of getting the medals and we did get them. This is what we’ve been saying in our preparations,” said Linsent Chitiyo, Team Zimbabwe manager.
Malawi is in third place, with only a silver medal while Botswana and Lesotho shared the joy of a bronze at the bottom. Botswana got its medal after beating a hapless Mozambique in the girls’ doubles 6-3, 6-1. The Lesotho pair of Matiea Tsenolo and Mpho Kotzie beat Malawi’s Winnie Kadamanja and Zione Nkhoma 3-6, 6-3, 10-8.
The rest of the participants return home with nothing.
Doubles results
Boys: Zimbabwe beat South Africa 3-6, 6-3, 10-7; Lesotho beat Malawi 3-6, 6-3, 10-8
Girls: South Africa beat Zim 7-6, 4-6, 10-7; Bots beat Moz 6-3, 6-1
Mixed Doubles: Zim beat Moz 6-2, 6-0; SA beat Angola 6-2, 6-3; Bots beat Zam 6-2, 6-2
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