The Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) has awarded athletes for their splendid performances during the All-Comers Track and Field event in Zambia with Stern Lifa and Asimenye Simwaka getting Lion’s share of the cash prizes. The two became the first Malawians to qualify for the Senior event and merit during the championship held at the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia last weekend, each got K200,000.00
Lifa won bronze in 100meters after clocking 10.36 seconds to beat his previous personal best of 10.58 seconds while Simwaka secured bronze in 400metres after clocking 52.59. Other athletes Mercy Malembo won a bronze Medal in 1,500m as she improved her record from 5:00:00 to 4.56:24 and Sunganani Namakonje improved her personal best and were awarded K100,000.00 while coach Pachisi Nyasulu was awarded K200,000.00
Presenting the cheques, MOC President Jappie Mhango said the athletes performed beyond expectations as the results set by Simwaka and Lifa on the path towards Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification. Mhango said, “We are overwhelmed by the results. This is why we have decided to reward them. We will continue supporting you until you achieve your dreams of qualifying for the Olympic Games.”
Mhango also said MOC has approached the Ministry of Youth and Sports to book the athletes an audience with President Lazarus Chakwera. Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports Ulemu Nsungama said the government is looking at how best it can reward the athletes.
“As Ministry, we are proud of the achievement by our athletes who won bronze Medals in Zambia, we have asked for reports from the sports federation to assist on how best we can honour the athlete.”
Said Msungama
Meanwhile, Lifa has hailed MOC for the rewards, saying they will motivate them for the Olympic Games qualification. Story by Clement Chinoko