Wrestling equipment stuck at border

Malawi Wrestling Association (MWA) equipment remains stuck at the border several months after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) donated it to the local sport body.

According to MWA vice-president Mary Kalirani, the IOC gave them the equipment after it was used during the 2012 London Games and it arrived in the country, but they are yet to redeem the tools at the Immigration Department.

The association cannot be privileged with the Sports Council’s duty waiver for the equipment, which includes mats and uniforms, because the body is only affiliated to the Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC).

When MWA conducted a wrestling coaching course for the first group of local coaches with the help of six-time world wrestling champion Bulgarian Nikolay Vidov, the association borrowed Taekwondo mats, which were much less thicker than those used in wrestling and some participants complained about feeling pain when making falls on them.

However, Kalirani could not disclose the sum required for MWA to get hold of the assorted standard equipment that arrived in the country about five months ago.

“We are trying our best to get the equipment into our fold. But we are sure we will have them before the end of the year,” she said.

At present, MWA has a Strategic Plan that wants them to achieve their goals to compete for medals at the 2016 Brazil Olympics despite registering the sport in the country few months ago.