Malawi will be represented by five athletes at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it has been confirmed.
According to Malawi’s Chief de Mission at the Games, John Kaputa, the competitors leave for the South American country on Sunday through Kamuzu International Airport.
Training commenced early this week at the Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe.
Tereza Master will compete in the marathon category, whereas Kefasi Kasteni is scheduled to fly the Malawi flag in 5,000 metres category.
Swimmers Brave Lifa and Amara Pinto will also travel to Brazil while David Areneo is the sole ambassador for archery.
Coaches Francis Munthali, Yona Walesi and Pat Young are drilling the athletes in athletics, swimming and archery, respectively, and will accompany the competitors to Brazil.
Master is heading to Rio after winning this year’s Sunbird Ku Chawe Mountain Race last Saturday in 1 hour 20 minutes 56 seconds.
Speaking after getting her K300,000 cash prize, the Sapitwa Athletics club runner said she was concerned that preparations for the Games had commenced late.
“It would have been better if we had started camping much earlier. But I will still do my best to win for my country since I had also been training on my own before being called for the camp training,” noted Master.
Kasteni missed the 21, kilometer Zomba event. No Malawi athlete has ever qualified for the global event and it comes as no surprise that the country has never made the list of medal winners at the showpiece.
Leave a Reply