HARARE Zimbabwe karate champion Samson Muripo leaves for Osaka, Japan today where he will defend his world Kyokushin title at the International Karate Union World Cup.The 32-year-old karateka told The Zimbabwean on Sunday last week that he was in good shape after a month’s intensive training ahead of the global karate festival in Japan.
“I am good in shape. I have been training and working hard ahead of this tournament. I am confident of defending my title,” he said in an interview.
World karate champions must defend their titles at least once every year and Muripo will defend his title at the same event at which he won the crown in 2009.
Last August the gifted karateka drew the attention of the world when he defeated Kiguyama Yasumichi of Japan in the finals to become the first ever African world champion in any karate discipline.
On his way to the top he beat opponents from Spain, Khazakstan, Germany and Australia.
Muripo was rewarded at home too, being crowned the 2009 Sports Person of the Year. His success has helped to popularise karate which had a relatively low profile in the country.
A devout Christian and dan black belt holder Muripo said he was not promising Zimbabweans much but would do his best in Japan to retain his full contact karate style title.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News