ZIMBABWEAN-BORN karateka based in the United Kingdom, Alison Nyoni won a silver medal at the just ended World Karate Championships in Turin, Italy last week.
REPORT BY BRIAN NKIWANE
Nyoni (40), came second in the men’s singles Kumite masters’ category. The masters’ category involves participants of over 35 years.
Zimbabwe Karate Union president Joe Rugwete confirmed the victory to Standardsport and added that karate has been enjoying a new lease of life recently.
“Nyoni was a surprise candidate on the podium, as he managed to strike silver in the World Championships which most people, including us back home never looked forward to. The nation should join hands in celebrating such an achievement,” Rugwete said.
Another veteran, Ndabezinhle Mazibuko, who is based in Bulawayo, also flew the country’s flag high when he won gold at the 39th edition of the Kofukan World Championships that were held in Durban, South Africa.
Mazibuko (43), scooped gold in the man’s single Kata veterans category.
Commenting on the recent performance by Zimbabwean karatekas, Sensei Simbarashe Mazhata, who led the team in Durban, said the country was moving in the right direction as there had been continuity in the sport.
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“We managed to travel with a team composed of veterans down to the youngest participant aged eight. So you can see that there is continuity in the sport,” Mazhata said.
A total of 11 participants went to South Africa and only two missed on medals.
Medals came from individual male Kata participant Gerald Muusha who won silver, Tinashe Mukhondya (bronze) and Zimbabwe’s own version of “The Karate Kid”, Raphael Mukondiwa who won silver in the juniors Under-10 category, with Tanaka Mazhata winning bronze in the boys 11-12 years category.
The other gold medal came from team Kata, which was composed of Mazhata, Muusha and Mukhondya.
Team Kumite which had five players and a substitute (reserve), went on to win bronze in a joint third position with another team. The team composed of Mazibuko, Mukhondya, Trust Ganha, Peter Magumira and Mazhata while Muusha was on reserve.
England, Sweden, Botswana, Switzerland, Portugal, Scotland, France, South Africa and Norway were some of the countries present at the event.
