ZAMBIAN female bodybuilding star Martha Favour Ngoma claimed a double at the Marume Classic Open Bodybuilding Championships held at the Zimbabwe College of Music auditorium in Harare on Saturday night.
The talented Lusaka-based athlete won the Women Bikini Fitness and Women Wellness categories on a night that solely belonged to her after bringing on stage a well-defined body. She relegated into second place, Gweru's Yeukai Midzi in the Women Bikini Fitness. Midzi also won silver in the Women Wellness category, while Mitchel Chivake from Harare took bronze.
Ngoma, who was placed outside the podium at last year's Marume Classic, came back with a winning frame, thanks to the post-mortem by the judges.
“Zimbabwe is now more like my home, my second home. I've been here several times. I was here last year and I placed fourth and then coming back here and winning a double, it was so amazing,” an ecstatic Ngoma told NewsDay Sport.
“I had to go back to the drawing board. Had to go and work on my weaknesses. I think the feedback that I got from the judges is really what helped me to really prepare and come in ready this time around. I had to go back home and worked on what I really needed to work on; building more muscle and getting more line and here I am.”
Ngoma was always in the game and on point from whichever angle one looked from.
“I think they (fellow female competitors) gave me a little bit of competition at some point. They're really doing well, it's all about supporting each other because we are all growing in the sport,” she said.
“I think I really worked much on my waist line, my abbs, my upper body and my back because I have always said I have a little bit less on my quad and the game is at the back. You can win me from my front but once I turn, it's game over.”
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Meanwhile, the Zambian athletes continued to dominate the bodybuilding championships with the male counterparts doing equally well on the night.
Amon Mugaza and Shadreck Mwaba both from Lusaka won gold and silver, respectively in the Men's Physique while Weignrace Masendeke and serial champion, Blessing Itai Sithole, settled for third and uncharacteristic fourth place.
“I have done men's physique before but this one was my toughest. I think I have to go back home and work hard because I will be back again here in November,” Mugaza told NewsDay Sport.
“I'm urging the Zimbabwean athletes to work extra hard because I will come with a full package more than this. Our preparations are so challenging, it is a very tough exercise. I have been preparing for this competition for almost a month, dieting and working extra hard. It's all about discipline, commitment, working extra hard and consistency as well.”
The Senior Men Bodybuilding award went to Noah Dzvokora, Francis Tatanca Chideme came second, while Aaron Musarurwa took bronze.
Paul Bako won the Men's Fitness category ahead of Pearson Charakupa and Francis Joey Nyashanu who finished in second and third place, respectively.
The Junior Men Bodybuilding gong was won by James Tashera, Musarurwa took silver while Prince Moyo claimed the last podium slot with the Women Fit Model category being won by Modest Dlakama.
