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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter       

BARELY a week after winning the inaugural Midlands championship, Zimbabwean bodybuilder Aaron Musarurwa continued with his fine form on the stage when he scooped a silver medal at the Arnold Classic Africa contest in South Africa at the weekend.

The Arnold Sports Festival, named after legendary former American professional bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, saw over 1 000 athletes from numerous sporting codes that include bodybuilding, karate and powerlifting battle for silverware at Ruimsig Stadium in Johannesburg.

Musarurwa, who was making his maiden appearance at the continental jamboree, managed to bring home a silver medal after he came second in the Men’s senior bodybuilding up to 85kg, behind Mozambican hulk Alexandre Francisco Moamba.

Abraham Mawutor Kwame Torkornoo from Ghana was third.

Musarurwa was excited by his performance and is looking forward to more success.

“ I’m so excited and overwhelmed by winning a medal.  It was my first time taking part at this big tournament in Africa,” said the 23-year-old.

“It was a tough competition, because there were a lot of big athletes from as far as Angola, Ghana and Mozambique but I am happy that I managed to pull through.

“I came to the competition expecting to compete in the junior category but the rules were changed in the last minute and I had to compete in the senior up to 85kg. But that did not deter me. I did all I could and managed to win a silver medal which I think is a good start to my international career

“I’m going to work extra hard so that when I come back next year, I will fight for gold and the pro card.

“I think it’s a big start. At 23-years and I’m able to win a medal at this big event shows that my future is bright and what I now need is more support from corporate world.

“I’m very grateful for the support I’m always getting from Trysupps Zimbabwe and our federation. They have been with me from the start and never lost faith in me, which I think is a massive thing.

“ I do hope that my success will bring more individuals and the cooperate world to the table so that I can take my career to another level,” said Musarurwa.

Trysupps Zimbabwe’s chief executive officer Tinotenda Gumbo was elated by the podium performance and he pledged more support for the rising athlete.

“As Trysupps Zimbabwe, we are proud of Aaron’s achievement considering the fact that he recently graduated from juniors to the seniors’ line up and still managed to place third at Africa’s biggest competition.

“This has even motivated us to continue supporting him. We will provide him with more supplements and the best training, plus guidance to ensure that he reaches his full potential.

He has proven us that he is a talented individual who has a great future. We are looking forward to seeing him turn international elite athlete and get to participate in some of the world’s biggest competitions like Mr Olympia.

“We hope this will go a long way in inspiring all the other youths out there to pursue bodybuilding as a career,” said Gumbo

In the Women Bikini Fitness category, Zimbabwe’s reigning champion Nomathamsanqa Phiri, who was also making her maiden appearance at the competition, came seventh out of over 16 top female athletes drawn from across the continent.