Malawi hauls four gold medals in Zimbabwe
Team Malawi lived up to their promise at the Mashonaland Provincial Championships that took place at Eaglesvale High School in Zimbabwe over the weekend when they won four gold, 10 silver and five bronze medals.
Out of the 36 athletes flying the country’s flag under Malawi National Council of Sports’ (MNCS) Podium Performance Programme (PPP) at College of Medicine Sports Complex High Performance Centre in Blantyre, 21 achieved a top-four finish, representing 70 percent success rate, according to PPP coordinator Augustine Banda.
He said athletics won the most medals—two gold, four silver and two bronze—followed by shot-put, which is bringing home two gold, silver and bronze.
Judo won three silver and a bronze while lawn tennis has contributed two silver and a bronze.
However, boxing is the only discipline that is returning home empty-handed.
“This is no mean achievement considering that our representatives competed against over 200 experienced Zimbabwean athletes,” Banda said.
The athletes could not be reached for comments yesterday as they were travelling back home.
But Sports Council executive secretary George Jana, who challenged the local athletes to bring home medals if the PPP is to continue, hailed the flag carriers for making the country proud.
“However, I urge them not to be overexcited with their achievement, but rather train harder ahead of the African Union Sports Council Region Five Games in Angola this December,” Jana said.
