Garan’anga To Star In Zimbabwe Open

This has been revealed by Tennis Zimbabwe administrator Cliff Nhokwara who added that they are taking advantage of Garan’anga’s presence during the Annual National Sports Awards for him to participate in the annual tennis event.

The Annual National Sports Awards will be held on December 15 and Garan’anga has been nominated along with marathon runner Stephen Muzhingi, and chess ace Robert Gwaze among the finalists for the Sportsman of the Year Award.

Although Muzhingi capped a memorable year by winning the South African Comrades marathon for the third year in a row, it appears Gwaze is Garan’anga’s biggest challenge for the award. Gwaze won a gold medal at the All Africa Games, the same as Garan’anga and also went on to win Grandmaster Open in Russia and also won the Hungary Challenge.

Apart from the gold and silver medals at the All Africa Games, Garan’anga came second in the Future Rochester tournament in the USA and is ranked 405th in the world.

Nhokwara said they have already spoken to Garan’anga who has agreed to participate in the Zimbabwe Open adding that they are hoping that his participation will bring back the glamour and glitz long associated with the event.

The Zimbabwe Open was briefly pulled out of the Zimbabwe tennis calendar due to lack of sponsorship but found itself back last year.

Garan’anga is at the moment Zimbabwe’s top tennis player and is also a member of the Zimbabwe Davis Cup team.

Nhokwawa said they are also hoping to lure Genius Chidzikwe, Zimbabwe Davis Cup team coach Gwinyai Tongoona as well as Martin Dzuwa to Zimbabwe’s biggest tennis tournament.