The Sunday Mail
Tariro Charandura
NEWSBABE Rumbie Takawira is out of next weekend’s So-Kyokushin tournament after suffering a knee injury at training.
Zimbabwe will host the tournament at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex but Takawira will not be among the over 300 athletes expected to slug it out.
“Unfortunately I will not be participating anymore because I have a knee injury. It’s not much of a big deal but I can’t risk anything,” she said.
The ZBC TV news anchor expects to be back in training in a fortnight.
“I just need to get another assessment from the doctors and if I get the all clear I should be back in the dojo in about two weeks time. I would have wanted to take part in the international tournament but I have no option but to watch from the sidelines and rally behind Team Zimbabwe,” said Takawira.
International Karate Organisation president Sensei Hanshi Daigo Ohishi is expected to be the guest of honour at the tournament.
Taking advantage of hosting privileges, the country will be represented by more than 160 karatekas and, Zimbabwe Kyokushin chair Sensei Lihkwa Khumalo expects a healthy medal haul.
“We just don’t want to have numbers, we also want some quality,” said Khumalo. “To help the team prepare we organised some tournaments to enable them to fine tune and we are confident that we will win some categories.”
Khumalo, however, said arranging the tournament had been giving his organising committee sleepless nights.
“We are working extra hard for this tournament because it’s quite different from others we have hosted before,” he said. “First the numbers are massive. We have karatekas from all continents coming through and we have made sure that everything will be on point.
“Having Sensei Hanshi Daigo Ohishi coming to Zimbabwe is an honour for us. During his tour Sensei Ohishi will do black belt grading and impart some knowledge to the locals.”
“I was also meant to be graded the day before the tournament…. I was going to be graded for my 1st dan black belt but unfortunately i popped my knee cap and wont be able to participate. Its depressing”
