By Talent Gondo| Zimbabwe based sports journalist, Grace Chirumanzu scooped bronze at the 5th UK International Kyokushin Cup in the women’s middleweight category.

Chirumanzu, came 3rd in a tournament held at Caledonia University, Glasgow in Scotland which drew participants from Ireland, Russia and Great Britain. She was the only African participant.

An ecstatic Chirumanzu told ZimEye.com  she was happy with her achievement although landing the gold title would have been sweeter.

“This is my first international medal and first participation at an international tournament,” she said.

Chirumanzu won her first ever title when she scooped bronze at the 1st So-Kyokushin African Championships, held in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2016.

“For me karate is not much about winning or losing, but it is about how the sport improves the character of its participants.

“l believe l managed to beat the me that l was yesterday because there is a lot l learnt while dishing out those punches and kicks,” she said, adding that her participation in the tournament taught her a lot of new things.

“I also got to pick some valuable lessons from being beaten and these lessons go beyond that karate fighting mate and teach me a lot about life,” she said.

Chirumanzu urged girls and women in sport to work hard adding that the fruits of hard work were sweet victory.

“I hope my victory will inspire a lot of young girls and women out there to participate in sport,” she told ZimEye.