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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
CHAMPION Chienderamwano flexed his muscles to regain the Mr Ironman bodybuilding title at the Odyssey Centre in Kadoma on Saturday. The 29-year-old Botswana-based body-builder first won this title in 2013 before Isaac “Sugar” Chimuchenga took it last year. Chienderamwano was back under the spotlight as he beat a field of nine body-builders to be crowned this year’s Mr Ironman.

On his way to victory, Chienderamwano upstaged the defending champion Chimuchenga who surprisingly went on to vent his anger on the officials and refused to accept his bronze medal after he came third behind the former body-builder and Blessing Moyo who was adjudged second.

Before Saturday’s contest, Chimuchenga had told the media that he was down with malaria and was not in a position to defend his title but he surprisingly appeared on stage on the day of competition, only to lose his crown to Chienderamwano.

Chienderamwano was pleased with his performance and was not bothered by Chimuchenga’s refusal to accept defeat.

“It’s been a struggle for me to be where I am today and I give all the glory to the one above (God).

“I’m grateful for the support that I always get from the bodybuilding fans and administrators. All the focus is now on winning Mr Zimbabwe for the third time in succession,” he said.

Gweru-based Chimuchenga had to send people to register for him at the last minute of the morning’s pre-judging meeting where he went on to say he would defend his crown.

Chimuchenga then threw the tenets of sportsmanship threw the window when he refused to accept defeat and instead claimed the judges had manipulated the results.

“You see these things always happen and the judges are not promoting the sport but killing it to be honest with you,” said a fuming Chimuchenga.

“You see most athletes didn’t want to participate in the first place but I had to sweet-talk them into getting into the contest but at the end of it all their fears were justified because I don’t think I deserved to lose this title, worse still, coming out number three.”

This was after Chimuchenga initially refused to join the other two winners on the podium where he declined to accept his bronze medal.

In other categories, Regina Jonga won the Ms Ironman title while Precious Mujuru bagged the women’s fitness figure ahead of Shantel Batch and Mitchelle Mastifo who settled for second and third places respectively.

Sandra Ncube finished fourth.

Goodwin Mhaka won the male fitness figure title by beating Brian Saundombe and Givemore Kamuronjo.

The disabled male title went to Marko Mwale with Pearson Tazvivinga and Tinashe Mutero coming second and third.

Collin van Rooyn finished in fourth place.

Ray Mutandiri won the junior male category while Lee Dzinzi, Takudzwa Kaisi and Shawn Sakala completed the top four placings.

Results:

Senior Men Body-building: 1. Champion Chienderamwano, 2. Blessing Samaringa, 3. Isaac Chimuchenga, 4. Tapiwa Chibota, 5. Brighton Mazikana, 6. Lovemore Manyamana.

Ladies Body-building: 1. Regina Jonga, Male Disabled, 1. Marko Mwale, 2. Pearson Tazvivinga, 3. Tinashe Mutero, 4. Collin Van Rooyn.

Juniors Men Body-building: 1. Raymond Mutandiri, 2. Lee Dzinzi, 3. Takudzwa Kaisi, 4. Shawn Sakala, 5. Ojukwu Chukwuemeka.

Male Fitness Figure: 1. Goodwin Mhaka, 2. Brian Saundombe, 3. Givemore Kamuronjo, 4. Hillary Wingwiri, 5. Emmanuel Ndapasuwa, 6. Hakeem Mandaza.

Female Fitness Figure: 1. Precious Mujuru, 2. Shantel Batch, 3. Mitchelle Mastifo, 4. Sandra Ncube.