Chibuzo and Chinedu Okpugo recently competed at the Karate South Africa SA Open/Elite Championships held at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville Campus in Durban, where both athletes delivered commendable performances while transitioning into new age and weight divisions.
Photo: Chibuzo Okpugo | Supplied
Chibuzo opened his campaign with an emphatic 8–0 win and followed up with a 4–0 victory in the quarter-finals. He then lost a closely contested semi-final 4–3, earning a bronze medal.
Chibuzo’s preparation for the championships highlighted the discipline required at elite level. Starting at 69.5kg on 29 June, he needed to cut at least 1.6kg in just 18 days to make weight. His regimen included karate training three times a week, daily 4–5km runs, and morning sessions with biokineticist Rhulani Mabunda. In the final 10 days, his diet was restricted to water, lean protein and vegetables, with reduced salt intake to manage water retention. He successfully weighed in at 67.1kg, shedding a total of 2.4kg ahead of the event.
Photo: Chinedu Okpugo | Supplied
Chinedu secured a dominant 6–0 victory in his opening bout before advancing to the final, where he was narrowly defeated 3–0 to claim silver.
Having turned 16, the twins have moved up from the 14/15 Cadets under-70kg division, where they previously ranked first and second in the country. Chinedu, who was ranked 15th in the world, has now stepped into the Junior Male -76kg category. While some ranking points carried over, he effectively begins a new journey, currently positioned at 76th in the world, with his sights firmly set on breaking into the top 10. Chibuzo, ranked 46th globally, has moved into the Junior 16/17 -68kg division, marking a fresh chapter in his competitive career.