By McGeorge Mbare
Zimbabwe’s own martial arts champion Shihan Wilfred Mashaya clinched four medals in various categories at the Welsh Open 2024 under the World Martial Arts Championship.
Mashaya who is an assistant inspector, in the Zimbabwe Republic Police is nicknamed Zim Ninja for his exploits in the sport.
With a cabinet beaming with 22 medals, Mashaya has continued to display exceptional performance in the traditional weapons and freestyle weapons categories winning two gold medals at the championship.
The Zim Ninja continued to display high rated performance in the creative weapons and extreme weapons where he was the runner up winning two silver medals which made him one of the most decorated athletes at the championship.
Despite tough competition from athletes representing a number of martial arts renowned nations including Wales, England, Nepal, Spain, Ukraine and India, Zim Ninja shined, displaying his skills and expertise which made him achieve four medals and great admiration from the fans.
Zim Ninja has won several awards in his career including the Master of the year 2022 award ,2022 Best Martial Arts Police instructor of the year, Annual Nation Sports Award [ANSA] 2018 Sportsman and Sportsperson of year accolades ,crowned the African Union Sports Council Region[AUSC],Regional Annual Sports Awards Sportsman of the year in 2019.Mashaya also participated in more than 10 virtual tournaments since 2020 and won 22 medals with 13 of those being gold.
The four black belts holder in Kyokushin karate, Bujinkan Ninjutsu ,Kobudo and self –defense is the founder of the Zim Ninja Academy based in Harare.