Mlugu flies high TZ flag in Dakar

SENEGAL, Dakar: JUDOKA Andrew Mlugu over the weekend flied high the country flag in Senegal after clinching Silver Medal at the Dakar African Open 2023 International Judo Federation.

Mlugu won the medal after winning 73 kg bout against Gambian, Paziaud Koga, thereafter   outshined Cameroonian, Kom Teddy, Enzy ina  another  bout  before  losing  in  the  finals against United  States Chandler  Cole.

Speaking about Mlugu’s   performance, the president Zaidi Hamis of Judo Association of Tanzania (JATA) on behalf   of country’s Judo family   acknowledged the Judoka for the great performance in Senegal.

Hamis said the victory is good sign for Judoka as well the country in preparations for the coming competitions, including the Olympic qualifications for the Paris Olympic Games 2024.

Earlier at the beginning of this month Hamis disclosed that JATA are planning to establish Judo program in schools in the country aiming at providing the sport knowledge as Judo has been growing rapidly in recent years.

“Judo is a sport that growing so fast, as the association we want to start promoting the sport from grassroot level, starting with children as they are fresh and sharp in capturing different stuff, ” he explained.

Judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport since 1964, and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.

Judo was created in 1882 by Kanō Jigorō as an eclectic martial art, distinguishing itself from its predecessors.