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Sports Reporter
THE Kobudo team under the Zimbabwe Karate Union continues to shine after they claimed 22 medals at the Second Annual Africa Women Cup Championships in South Africa on Saturday.
ZKU’s team made up of — Tariroyashe Ndhlovu, Shamiso Makombe, Olga Zvavanjanja, Jeahan Zvavanjanja and Thandiwe Chirindo and one male — Vincent Fambira — who competed in the men’s catefory.
They bagged nine gold medals, as many silver and four bronze.
The tournament was organised by Kyoshi Cindi Mailula of South Africa under the Pan African Shotokan Karate-do Federation as the country celebrates their National Women’s Month.
The tournament included semi contact kumite, karate katas and the kobudo/weaponry categories.
Some of the categories the team competed in were the individual short weapon, individual long weapon, pair short weapon, pair long weapon, freestyle weapons and freestyle nunchaku category.
In the women’s category Ndhlovu won four gold and two silver medals while Shamiso Makombe got one gold and three silver.
Olga Zvavanjanja picked one gold, two silver and a bronze while her sister in-law Jeahan Zvavanjanja won one gold, one silver and two bronze. Thandiwe Chirindo weighed in with a bronze medal.
Zimbabwe’s only male representative, Fambira clinched two gold medals and a silver.
The team’s coach Wilfred Mashaya was impressed with the outcome as they overcame various challenges they faced to compete at the event.
“The Zimbabwe women have proved that they can rise up among other in the region and be counted in the discipline/sport of Martial Arts Weapons (kobudo).
“God is good all the time. I pioneered kobudo under Zim Ninja Academy some few years back and now here we are. With God everything is possible.
“We want to thank the Almighty Lord for the fruitful results” said Mashaya.
Initially it was supposed to be a two-day tournament but was later changed to be a one-day event.
This was the first physical tournament by the Zimbabwe kobudo team as previously they have been participating in virtual competitions in the past due to the covid-19 pandemic.
They also faced sponsorship challenges and with this win the team is hopeful that it will open doors and attract potential sponsors to chip in.
Mashaya encouraged the team to remain humble, focused, disciplined and working hard for future tournaments as he believes there is always room for improvement.
The team is also hoping to attend international and world tournaments if they get the support and sponsorship.
Online Reporter