Malawi’s quest for an automatic slot at the next Tokyo Olympic Games was kept alive after two athletes Stern Lifa and Asimenye Simwaka qualified for the 22nd Senior African Championships slated for June 1 to 5 in Algeria. This is the first time for Malawi to qualify for the senior Championship having been sending athletes on Solidarity. The two were part of the Five- Member squad that competed at the All-Comers Track and field event at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka Zambia over the weekend.
On Saturday, Lifa underlined his growing reputation when he yet again broke his 100m record for the third successive time reducing it to 10:36 from 10:38 to wine a bronze Medal. The Malawi University Student was unable to compete in the 200m event after pulling his muscles. On the same day Simwaka, who is also a Malawi Women’s National Football Team Player finished fourth in 200m and reduced her time to 23: 91 from 24:19 to qualify for the African Championships.
The following day, Simwaka won a Bronze Medal in 400m after clocking 52:59 whereas compatriot Sunganani Namakonje came forth in the same event posting 59: 65. On Saturday, Namakonje competing in 800m, finished seventh after clocking 2: 38: 44. In other events on an opening day, Mercy Malembo claimed a Bronze Medal in 1,500m, having improved her record from 5.000.00 to 4.56.24.
Alan Chirwa competing in 800m finished in sixth after posting 1.57.77. Meanwhile, Simwaka said she was pleased with her performance.
“I will work hard to impress in Algeria to qualify for the Olympics to have achieved this is only my second international tournament. But i am not done yet. I also want to become the first female Malawian to qualify for the Olympics. I feel proud.” We need all support to qualify, this is just the beginning.”
Simwaka said
The Squads coach Pachisi Nyasulu said Malawi’s Performance was encouraging. “Overall Malawi has performed very well. Three of the five go Bronze Medals and have also reduced their time. The other guys (Allan and Sunganani), despite joining us late in the camp have performed well. They now have time that they can look on to improve.” He said
Athletics Association of Malawi President Godfrey Phiri saluted the squad for impressive performance. He also hailed Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) for supporting the five. Meanwhile, MOC President Jappie Mhango has said, the five will also be sent to Botswana prior to the African Championships. “We will keep all of them in camp because they have the potential to qualify. They have done well; qualifying for the continental Championship is not a mean achievement,” he said.
Lifa 21 said: ‘I am excited to be one of the first two Malawian athletes to qualify for senior African Championship on Merit, I won’t relax because my eyes are set on qualifying for Olympics and can be no better platform than the Algiers event.”: Story by Mphatso Malidadi & Clement Chinoko.