Zambia army shines at Judo tourny

THE Zambia Army Judo club has emerged as winners at the just ended 2015 Japanese Ambassador Judo Championship at the Olympic Youth Development Center (OYDC) bagging 64 points followed by runners up Zambia police with 34 points and the Zambia National Service with 24 points. THE Zambia Army Judo club has emerged as winners at the just ended 2015 Japanese Ambassador Judo Championship at the Olympic Youth Development Center (OYDC) bagging 64 points followed by runners up Zambia police with 34 points and the Zambia National Service with 24 points.

The tournament which took place this month attracted ten clubs from across the country with individual events including pre-cadets ranging from 7 to 12 years, cadets from 13 to 16 years, juniors from 17 to 19 years and the seniors above 20 years old.

In the individual category, Sandford Muyunda and Mercy Bowa of Zambia police emerged winners in the pre-cadet, Philip Likowa for Zambia Army and Mary Kamyemba of Zambia Police topped the cadet category while Joshua Nyanda and Naomi Zulu of OYDC emerged winners in the junior category.

Batista Inambao of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) together with Esther Sanda came out victorious in the the senior category.

In an interview with the Lusaka Star, acting General Secretary, Mabvuto Nguni said the tournament is important as it provides a platform for good talent identification at national level and improves on national rankings.

“We have Bowas Munyunga who has been consistent in the national rankings, but the point is that the tournament provides high levels of competition at the national level,” said Nguni.

Despite having successfully hosted this year’s tournament, Nguni lamented having some financial challenges as the Zambia Judo Association introduced team events.

“The Japanese embassy provides trophies for the first three positions and ten medals but we still feel we need more stakeholders to come on board,” Nguni said.

He also thanked the Japanese Embassy for their continued support towards the tournament and also Best Juice Beverages for coming on board to sponsor the newly introduced Team events category.

The tournament which has been in existence since 2002 attracted clubs like Skanze, lilayi and Kamphinsa police camp which were grouped as Zambia police club, other clubs included the Zambia army, Zambia National Service, Mazabuka Judo club and the Olympic Youth Development Center (OYDC) Judo club.
 

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