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By Gilbert Munetsi
Six year-old Wilfred Mashaya Jnr this week became the youngest of five other contestants who participated and scooped medals in the second edition of the recent International Karate and Kobudo Championships in India.
The competitions were hosted by Shihan Ayan Chakraborty under the Traditional Karate-do Okinawa Kobudo Indo Kyokai organisation.
One lady (Mitchell Machingura), four male seniors (Fredson Mhondiwa, Vincent Fambira, Brian Shepeni and Sensei (Wilfred) Mashaya Snr and his son collectively scooped seven gold, four silver and four bronze medals from the 13 categories they took part in.
They participated in marshal arts forms which included Toma bo kata, Hamahiga no tonfa, Nicho no sai and traditional kata.
Mashaya Jnr is son to Sensei Wilfred Mashaya Snr who has perfected the art of Kobudo (a weapons martial art) which he pioneered after having spent some time in Montenegro.
The latest competitions – which had a total of 24 countries taking part – were held virtually.
Zimbabwe Ninja Academy secretary general, Christopher Garatsa, told Nhau in an interview Wednesday that they managed to urge their team members to train from their homes due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Due to lockdowns and the subsequent stoppage of sporting activities that came with the advent of Covid-19, we resorted to the use of internet and social media platforms to encourage members to keep training at home to stay in form.
“Zim Ninja Academy remained resolute during the period in question, and has been participating in virtual competitions, thereby continuing to make noise on the local and international scenes. We continued to raise the national flag high even in times of adversity,” he said.
Countries which participated at the International Karate and Kibudo Championships 2021 included Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Japan, South Africa, USA, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Austria, Sweden, England and the Czech Republic.
Entrants were requested to send recorded videos from home and other chosen sites, which were adjudicated by a panel of professional judges drawn from different corners of the world.
The achievement by the Academy comes after its members earlier in the month scooped five other medals from a tournament hosted by Malta.
Home to various martial arts styles which include karate, ninjatsu, kobudo and nunchaku-do, the Zim Ninja Academy is an affiliate of the Zimbabwe Karate Union (ZKU). Nhau/Indaba
