Judokas bow out of World Champs

ZIMBABWEAN judokas at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Tapiwa Pavari and Brian Chiminya bowed out of the competition that began on Monday after losing their first round fights.

Pavari, representing the country in the Under-60kg, went down to Yanislaf Gerchev of Bulgaria on the first day of the championships on Monday while Chiminya lost in the Under-66kg yesterday.

The World Senior Individual and Teams Championships run until Sunday, but for the Zimbabwean judokas Pavari and Chiminya they will now be watching from the sidelines after they failed to go beyond the first round.

Speaking from Hungary yesterday, Judo Association of Zimbabwe president Smart Deke said although Pavari and Chiminya lost in the first round fights of the event, the championships have been an eye-opener not for the athletes only, but also for him and his executive that came into office in May.

“We sent these guys just for (international) exposure as well as for us to know what really needs to be done that is going to make us reach the same standards as Asian and European countries.

“As the president, thinking of the way forward, there is still a lot more that needs to be done.

“As we speak right now we are going to the finals and there is no one athlete from Africa. So that is actually giving us a view or picture that we have a lot to do.

“There is need for more investment in sport for us to be in the same league as Europe and Asia.

“We need to come back home and start working hard. The more we promote the sport in Zimbabwe, the more it’s going to help us come up with strong athletes,” said Deke.

The JAZ president also urged the Government through the Ministry of Sport and Recreation to invest in sport.

“The more the Government or the Ministry of Sport gets involved and invest in our sport, the more we can reach the same standards with those guys from Asia and Europe. Those guys they have been invested in a lot to be where they are,” added Deke.