Mashaya invades Bangladesh with weapons.

By AUSTIN KARONGA | Dec. 28, 2023 | 2 Min read

Master Mashaya is the only Zimbabwean representative in Dhaka owing to financial constraints.

WEAPON karateka, Wilfred Mashaya is in Dhaka, Bangladesh for the International BG Karate Championships that took off in the Asian country on Thursday.

The Zimbabwe Kobudo representative flexes his muscle on Friday and will be fancying his chances for another medal haul before the year comes to an end in an exciting finale today.

The tournament organised by Shihan Khaled Monsur Chowdhury’s Bangladesh Goju Ryu Karate Federation and firmly supported by Bangladesh Bashap Association is taking place at BKSP Sports Village, Saver in Dhaka.

Master Mashaya is the only Zimbabwean representative in Dhaka owing to financial constraints.

“We were meant to bring a team of three athletes but ended up going on his own due to lack sponsorship. However, it is our hope that following my individual display here in Dhaka, corporates and individuals alike will chip in and support our cause going forward,” Master Mashaya told NewsDay Sport.

“We have done our outmost best to represent the country and fly our national flag high in all the tournaments that we participated with both pride and dignity, and no one doubt we have put our country on the map.”

The Zim Ninja specialises in weapons such as tonfa, nunchaku, kutana swords, sai, bo and kama among many others. He introduced the Kobudo art in 2016 after sitting on top of the world in Russia where he won gold during the International Kobudo Tournament held in Moscow.

Some of the tournaments Master Mashaya and his Zim Ninja Academy students have participated in during the year including the Regional Martial Arts tourney in South Africa in August where they won six gold and over 20 medals overall. In October, together with his understudy, Vincent Fambira, they brought home 11 medals from the ICO Martial Arts World Championships held in Hull, England.