Malawi’s slim hopes of ending a 40-year medal drought at Commonwealth Games were washed away on Saturday night after athlete Nathan Chisale failed to make the grade in the 5 000-metre (m) race.
The 2025 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games gold medalist was the last athlete with a chance to salvage something for Team Malawi.
Earlier on, judo athlete Brave Chimpokosa fell through in the 73-kilogramme male category.
But the Malawi Commonwealth Games Association and the Malawi National Council of Sports say it was not all doom and gloom as some athletes and codes were within sniffing distance of a podium finish.
The association’s secretary general Henry Sakala said there was a notable improvement in some codes, citing boxing and athletics.
He said: “We are encouraged that some of our athletes reached the advanced stages in their respective categories. They proved that they were not there just to participate, but compete.
“Malawians should have hope that in the near future, our athletes will bring medals.”
Sports Council spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa also said there were positives from the Games.
He said: “Of course, once again we failed to win a medal, but the most encouraging thing is that there are signs of improvement.
“For instance, one of our boxers Elias Bonzo reached the quarter-finals, something we haven’t witnessed in recent years. Then we had athlete Asimenye Simwaka reaching the semis in 200m and 400m.
“A predominantly youthful Malawi Queens side finished seventh, which was beyond expectations, considering that it is a new team.”
Ntulumbwa said based on that, there is hope that the country will do well at the 2028 Los Angles Summer Olympics in the US.
Malawi last won two bronze medals at the Games in 1986 through boxers Chikoya Mphande and Solomon Kondowe.
Before that, Malawi last won bronze at its maiden appearance in 1970 again through boxer Tatu Chionga.
