Mwawi does it again
She has done it again. Queens’ goal shooter (GS) Mwawi Kumwenda has retained the top scorer’s accolade at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Australia.
The lanky Australia-based netballer also achieved a similar feat at the 2014 Glasgow Games in Scotland.
Her achievement comes as a solace to Team Malawi which, for the umpteenth time, failed to win a medal at the showcase.
The Melbourne Vixens GS epitomised the tournament by claiming 254 baskets out of 274 attempts, representing a 92.7 percent scoring rate in six games.
Jamaica Sunshine Girls’ Jhaniele Fowler-Reid came second with 231 baskets from 247 attempts, translating to 93.5 percent scoring rate in seven matches while Uganda She-Cranes’ Peace Proscovia and England Roses’ Joanne Harten are joint third with 202 baskets each.
Mwawi has surpassed her 2014 feat that saw her scoring 230 goals.
Her team-mate, Takondwa Lwazi, was named among the top-five goal assists.
In an interview from Australia yesterday, Mwawi said she is excited to have repeated the feat.
She said: “I am so glad because it is very rare that one achieves such a feat back-to-back. It is even incredible that I scored more baskets this time around.
“My shooting accuracy was also better compared to the 2014 Games. It’s all down to the support I get from my team-mates and those around me.”
However, the former Kukoma Diamonds and Tactix (New Zealand) shooter said she is disappointed with the Queens’ failure to finish in the top six for the first time in 20 years.
“It was a huge setback, but hopefully we can pick ourselves up and move on.
“We have learnt a lot and, hopefully, next time we can do much better.”
Queens coach Griffin ‘Zagallo’ Saenda—who did not make the trip due to an illness—described Mwawi’s feat as a face saver.
“You always expect her to do something extraordinary even when the chips are down and to come out as a top scorer, underlines her credentials as one of the best players in the world,” he said on Sunday.
The Queens, who finished seventh, won four games and lost twice. They are expected back today.
