3 days Ago By Mphatso Malidadi
The Malawi Karate Team concluded its international outing on an impressive note after winning 11 medals, including two gold ones, at the Kurai Open Championship in Harare, Zimbabwe, over the weekend. The side collected two gold, five silver and four bronze medals at the two-day championship, which ended on Sunday. It marked a successful outing as the team collected three gold, three silver and two bronze medals at the Lusaka Karate Open Championship in Zambia on November 9.
During the Zimbabwe tournament, Samantha Mwamondwe won a gold medal in the Under-15 Girls’ Kata category, underlining her growing potential. She then underscored her flexibility by winning silver in the Under-15 Girls’ Kumite. Malawi then collected another gold medal through Pempho Datchi, who triumphed in the Under-17 Girls’ Kata.
The team secured a silver medal through Maureen Justin in the Under-15 Girls’ Kata whereas Catherine Chawinga won another silver. Justin’s impressive run continued with a bronze medal in the Under-15 Girls’ Kumite. In the boy’s category, Chimwemwe Lemon won silver in Kata while Chikondi Mwamlima got a silver medal in Kata in the senior men’s category.
Kelvin Chimdima then won a bronze medal. Malawi National Council of Sports Communications and Public Relations Officer Edgar Ntulumbwa said the back-to-back tournaments, the Lusaka Open and the Kurai Open, serve as critical preparations for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games, scheduled for June next year in Namibia. “These are very encouraging results considering that this was the first time the Malawi Karate Federation competed at the international level since the dissolution of the Malawi Karate Union.
“We believe the federation has learned a lot by competing at the two tournaments and that the experience and exposure they have gained will help them develop the sport of Karate here in Malawi,” Ntulumbwa said..
