THE inaugural Zim Ninja Academy National Martial Arts Tournament made an emphatic entrance onto the national sporting calendar on Saturday, filling Harare City Sports Centre with fierce competition and packed stands as martial artists from across Zimbabwe battled for honours.
Packed stands, intense competition and a colourful display of trophies and medals provided the backdrop to a tournament that brought together emerging talent and seasoned competitors in full contact Karate and Kobudo.
The level of competition remained high across the age groups, with young athletes testing their skills on a major platform while senior competitors battled for trophies, medals and prize money.
Medals were awarded to competitors finishing from first to fourth position across the different categories, while the top three received trophies. Competitors aged 18 and above also fought for cash prizes, adding another dimension to the competition.
Zim Ninja Academy secretary general Sensei Gift Mupondi described the turnout of more than 200 competitors at the academy’s first national tournament as an encouraging start.
He said the strong spectator attendance and competitive standard provided a foundation for organisers to develop the tournament further.
Mupondi thanked the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Sports and Recreation Commission, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Karate Union leadership, technical officials, referees, sponsors, competitors and spectators for contributing to the event.
SRC director general Allen Mavunga, who was Guest of Honour, said the tournament demonstrated the broader role sport could play in society.
“Sport builds discipline. Sport builds health. Sport builds resilience. Sport builds confidence. Sport brings communities together,” Mavunga said.
“And, as this tournament demonstrates, sport can also become a powerful instrument for addressing some of the social challenges confronting our people.”
The tournament ran under the theme, “Building a Drug-Free Generation Through Sport,” combining competition with an awareness campaign against drug and substance abuse.
Members of CID Drugs and Narcotics addressed participants on the dangers of drug abuse, while young Zim Ninja Academy members delivered poems, songs and presentations carrying the same message.
Ahead of the competition, organisers took the campaign into Mbare aboard a Proton truck accompanied by the Zim Bikers Team, Coach Rambo the Lifesaver and young musician Ngwere Diki.
The tournament also attracted a broad cross-section of the martial arts fraternity.
Zimbabwe Karate Union president Shihan Tawanda Mufundisi and Harare provincial chairman Sensei Brighton Mugove Muyambo attended alongside Judo Association of Zimbabwe president Sensei Moses Mutende, International Taekwondo Academy president and chief instructor Master Evan Brown and Wing Chun practitioner Leo Nyamukapa.
Chief Superintendent Ray Chiteka represented Police Academy Commandant Assistant Commissioner Ali Simbarashe Hondo, while bodybuilding champion Blessing Sithole was also among the guests.
The competition received backing from Fleximarble Investments, Schweppes, Proton, InnBucks, Brandit Volensque, Baines Intercare Medical Centre, Musabvunda, Gas Up Energy, Quality Glass Warehouse, Jandrup Group, Aqua Rangers Lifesaving & Water Safety Services, Elite Physical Therapy and the Twins Association of Zimbabwe, among others.
