Central High Sports Day gives AAM food for thought

A sports day that Blantyre-based Central High School held on Friday has prompted the Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) to seriously consider school events as the platform for talent identification.

AAM president Godfrey Phiri, who was accompanied by Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) president Oscar Kanjala at the event, said it is through such activities that they can spot athletes with inborn talent.

During the day-long event, pupils contested in disciplines such as the javelin, short distance running, hurdles, the long jump and the shot-put.

“I think it is high time we stopped neglecting schools athletics events like these. Our South African counterparts are doing well nowadays because they are emphasising on tapping talent from schools.

“I believe it would work wonders for us as well if we encourage schools to organise more of such events and we come up with a national schools athletics competition. We will see how we should go about this great idea,” said Phiri.

According to Central High School head teacher Nishant Mishra, the annual athletics day aims at grooming students into future sports personalities and promoting healthy living.

“Not all students will do well in class and you never know sports might end up becoming their career one day. This is why we have hired coaches for athletics, soccer, table tennis, chess, korfball and volleyball,” he said.

Sixteen-year-old Christina Kamange, who won three gold medals in 100 metres, long jump and relay race, said sports refreshes her brain.