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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
KARATEKAS from across the country will have the opportunity to test their skills when the season takes off next week with the National Junior and Senior Championships in Bulawayo.

The championships, set for February 27, are organised by the Zimbabwe Karate Union and will be held at Bulawayo Bowling Club. Participants will fight for honours in kata and kumite. The juniors are expected to compete in different age-groups and seniors will battle it out in a number of weight divisions.

The tournament is meant to provide an opportunity for athletes to compete as well as to present a platform for the national coaching team to assess karatekas in their different categories.

National technical director semi-contact styles, Paul Danisa, said the competition is being held in preparation of the Zone VI championships to be hosted by Zimbabwe this year in May.

“This is our first competition of the year in preparation for the Zone VI championships which are in May. We have urged people to register early. There has been quite a big response from Kwekwe, Gweru and Bulawayo itself. There are people from Triangle and Harare not many so far.

“I am basically looking at new blood to field in the team (Zone VI). There are some who have been progressing quickly and we think they have come of age to take over, they will be expecting to make their presence felt,” said Danisa.

Danisa said they are hoping to field at least 100 fighters for the regional championships in May and are looking forward to an exciting tournament in Bulawayo as their members fight for places in the national team.

“We are looking at fielding at least 100 athletes because we are home and we don’t have our usual problems of raising money to travel. The fact that we are home means that we are allowed to field more athletes,” he said.