Asimenye, lifa sniff olympics
Malawian short-distance athletes Asimenye Simwaka and Stain Lifa have qualified for Africa Senior Athletics Championship in Yaounde, Cameroon in June which gives them a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The duo separately won gold medals at All Corners International Meet in Ndola, Zambia at the weekend.
Simwaka did it in 100-metres (m) distance while Lifa excelled in 200m race to break their own records on the domestic scene.
The new records have boosted their chances of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics in France as they have punched tickets for the continental showpiece, which is one of the main qualifying tournaments.
Meanwhile, Malawi is the only country out of the 10-member African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 yet to produce qualified athletes for the Olympics and the African Senior Athletics Championship could be the last hope.
Malawi has not produced a qualified athlete for the Olympics since its first appearance in 1973.
During the weekend race, Simwaka set a new national record in the women’s 100m in 11.56 seconds, beating her previous feat of 11.68. In 200m, she finished the race in 23.16 to be 12 milliseconds faster than her previous record.
On his part, Lifa crossed the finish line in 10.22 seconds in 100m, 11 milliseconds faster than his previous record while in 200m he clocked 20.76 seconds, beating his previous feat of 20.88.
Lifa said in an interview yesterday: “It feels good to not only win gold medals and break national records but also give the country a glimmer of hope for Olympics qualification. I promise to work extra hard to make Malawi proud.”
Malawi Olympic Committee secretary general Henry Sakala has since said once Simwaka and Lifa arrive home today, they will proceed to camp in preparation for the continental championship.
Sakala said: “We will not release them until they connect to their next equally important competition just to make sure they prepare fully.
“Although this is Athletics Malawi’s duty, we do not want to take any chances because the African Athletics Championship is our last hope for Olympics qualification.”
Athletics national coach Pachisi Nyasulu said he is confident that Simwaka and Lifa will represent the country well in Cameroon and make the Olympics grade.
