TAM tourney targets women participation

Taekwondo Association of Malawi (TAM) will organise an all-ladies tournament early next month in an attempt to attract more women into the martial arts sport.

TAM national coach Lovemore Masinga told The Nation yesterday that the participation of female athletes dwindled in the last three years and they want to fill the gaps with ladies they will enrol during the week-long event.

Three years ago, the sport, which is essential for self-defence, had at least 20 female athletes across the country, but only eight are still active—three in Blantyre, two in Salima, two in Mzuzu and one in Zomba.

“We want to promote women’s participation in taekwondo. We do not care whether one has been involved in the sport before. All ladies are free to take part in this event as long as they are interested,” said Masinga.

He said international competitions such as the African Taekwondo Championships expected to take place in Mozambique early 2014, demand an equal representation of male and female athletes.

Masinga said they have already presented a budget for the competition to Sports Council and they are hopeful it will be accepted in January.

Initially, TAM wanted to hold the contest on December 28.n