Simwaka promises to give her best
Malawian female short-distance runner Asimenye Simwaka says she will give her best at the 2024 Paris Olympics in France.
She said this on the sidelines of the 2024 Standard Bank Be More Race in Lilongwe on Saturday.
“I will not promise Malawians any medal at the Olympics, but I will definitely fight hard,” said the Malawi Defence Force athlete who will compete in the 100-metre race.
Simwaka, alongside swimmers Tayamika Changánamuni and Fillipe Gomes, will represent Malawi on solidarity after the country’s continued failure to produce qualified athletes.
She said she was geared up for the big stage, but expects tough competition.
“What I can say is that I will do my best. I had had good preparations for the Olympic Games and I will have to show the country what am made up of during the games,” Simwaka added.
National athletics coach Pachisi Nyasulu, who has accompanied the athlete, said Simwaka had good preparations at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
“She holds a record in the women’s 100m attained in Cameroon and we have been working to improve on it. We are optimistic that she will set a new national record at the Olympics,” he said.
During the Be More Race awards presentation, Athletics Malawi general secretary Nicholas Kanyenda announced that Standard Bank has provided K300 000 and K 100 000 as upkeep for Simwaka and Nyasulu respectively.
The Malawi delegation was expected to depart for Paris yesterday afternoon through Kamuzu International Airport.
