Commonwealth Games: Kenyan judoka Munangwe eyes medal in Birmingham

African Judo Open +100kg silver medalist Calvin Munangwe is hoping to live up to expectations and deliver a medal for Kenya when he represents the country at the 'Club Games' with his discipline to begin on 1 to 3 August in Birmingham.

The 32-year old Judoka who until 2017 had neither interest nor knowledge of Judo until a friend, Amos Aori, introduced him to the sport has shown tremendous growth, to the level of becoming the first Kenyan male medalist at an international event. 

"It has been quite the journey to the point that I have qualified for this championship. I am hoping to make the country proud. 

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The process of qualification included the national trials through the league that is played in several towns across the country. 

I also got a chance to play international tournaments in Africa and Europe. Our last continental outing handed me this chance to Birmingham," explained Munangwe in an interview ahead of his departure to Birmingham. 

In November 2021, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Judoka entered the history books as the first-ever Kenyan male medalist at an international judo event at the African Judo Open championship held in Dakar. 

He won silver following a brave battle for gold against home player Mbagnick Ndiaye who is the reigning African champion in the +100kg category. 

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The Advertising and Graphics Communication degree holder from Moi University is hoping to replicate his performance in Dakar at the championship in Birmingham. 

"Being in Birmingham is an amazing feeling but also challenging. The expectations are quite high because the country is yet to win a Commonwealth Games medal and that is the target as we head out for competition. This would be quite the achievement for the career that I have had in the sport since 2017," added Munangwe. 

He will be joined in the hunt for medals by Perister Bosire in the +78kg women's category. Bosire claimed gold in her event ag the Dakar Open championship last year, beating Monic Guilavogui of Guinea. 

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Kenya's only medalist at an international judo competition prior to the duo's exploits was Esther Akinyi in 2013 during the African Judo Championships held in Maputo, Mozambique. Akinyi won silver in the open class.