News / National
Zimbabwe karatekas shine in South Africa
22 Sep 2013 at 06:53hrs | Views
Zimbabwean martial artists once again held their own at a major karate meet when a hastily assembled team harvested a basketful of medals at last week's World Goju Ryu Karate Championships in South Africa.
The tournament took place at the Stellenbosch University in Cape Town from September 10-16 and the biggest feat for Zimbabwe was achieved by the girls' junior team competing in the kumite category where they won a silver medal in the grand final.
Captained by Unesu Hlahla and featuring Kudzaishe Takaedza, who stayed unbeaten in her duels, plus Ashley Khuddu and Elizabeth Banda, the Zimbabweans only lost to Germany in the final after convincingly dispatching hosts South Africa in the semis.
Zimbabwe's overall captain, Winston Nyanhete, contesting in the men's Under-67kg category, lost in the semi-finals to eventual winner Valerii Stepanchuk from Ukraine, but earned a bronze medal.
There were also bronze medals for Justine Mashiri - Under-60kg men - who lost controversially in the semi final to eventual winner Oleh Ivanchu from Ukraine, Unesu Hlahla - Under-59kg women who also exited in the semi final at the hands of eventual winner Sandra Wregers of Germany and Ashley Khuddu - Over-54kg women - beaten by South Africa's Cecilia Strydom in the last four.
According to Sensei Joe Rugwete, the Zimbabwe Karate Union president, the quartet of Nyanhete, Mashiri, Hlahla and Khuddu were phenomenal in their individual bouts.
"We also had veterans Innocent Chiwoto and Clive Gorekufa who did well by reaching the second round of their divisions. Generally our karatekas provided a great show of sportsmanship that got a standing ovation from the whole arena, spectators, competitors and officials included,'' enthused Rugwete.
In June, the full Zimbabwe national team finished second in the eight-team Zone Six Karate Championships in Windhoek and are speedily returning to their peak of the 1990s when they were consistent in reaping medals at the 1991 Cairo All-Africa Games and the 1995 edition held in Harare.
The tournament took place at the Stellenbosch University in Cape Town from September 10-16 and the biggest feat for Zimbabwe was achieved by the girls' junior team competing in the kumite category where they won a silver medal in the grand final.
Captained by Unesu Hlahla and featuring Kudzaishe Takaedza, who stayed unbeaten in her duels, plus Ashley Khuddu and Elizabeth Banda, the Zimbabweans only lost to Germany in the final after convincingly dispatching hosts South Africa in the semis.
Zimbabwe's overall captain, Winston Nyanhete, contesting in the men's Under-67kg category, lost in the semi-finals to eventual winner Valerii Stepanchuk from Ukraine, but earned a bronze medal.
There were also bronze medals for Justine Mashiri - Under-60kg men - who lost controversially in the semi final to eventual winner Oleh Ivanchu from Ukraine, Unesu Hlahla - Under-59kg women who also exited in the semi final at the hands of eventual winner Sandra Wregers of Germany and Ashley Khuddu - Over-54kg women - beaten by South Africa's Cecilia Strydom in the last four.
According to Sensei Joe Rugwete, the Zimbabwe Karate Union president, the quartet of Nyanhete, Mashiri, Hlahla and Khuddu were phenomenal in their individual bouts.
"We also had veterans Innocent Chiwoto and Clive Gorekufa who did well by reaching the second round of their divisions. Generally our karatekas provided a great show of sportsmanship that got a standing ovation from the whole arena, spectators, competitors and officials included,'' enthused Rugwete.
In June, the full Zimbabwe national team finished second in the eight-team Zone Six Karate Championships in Windhoek and are speedily returning to their peak of the 1990s when they were consistent in reaping medals at the 1991 Cairo All-Africa Games and the 1995 edition held in Harare.
Source - Sunday News
