Malawi: Athletics Malawi is getting ready to host the senior and junior track and field regional championships on Saturday. The sporting events will be hosted across three venues: Chirunga Stadium in Zomba, Dedza Stadium in Dedza, and Thumbi ground in Mzimba.
The organization is delighted to welcome the athletes from all over the nation to compete in the regional event. The aim of the event is to allow the youngsters of the nation to come forward and showcase their talents in front of the sports stakeholders.
General Secretary of the Athletics Association of Malawi, Nicholas Kanyenda commented on the significance of the championship. According to him, the championships aim to identify talent for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 games.
The tournament is scheduled for May 2025 and will take place in Namibia. The authorities are also preparing the athletes for the Olympics 2028 which will be hosted in Los Angeles.
“Our main objective is to identify athletes who will be competing in AUSC Region 5 games and Olympics 2028.
“We have put in place committees in each region to supervise the events and partnered with the Malawi National Council of Sports to ensure the success of the championships.” He said.
Athletics Malawi coach, Limbikani Chiukia, expressed confidence in the team’s preparations, citing targeted interval training and strength conditioning.
“We have focused on building our athletes‘ endurance and speed, and I’m confident that our team will be competitive, especially in the sprint events.” He said.
However, Chiukia acknowledged the challenges facing athletics development in Malawi, including lack of resources, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to coaching education.
The championships will also serve as a platform for exposure, allowing athletes to compete against top-level opponents and gain valuable experience.
With a long-term goal of identifying and developing young athletes, Athletics Malawi is committed to helping them reach their full potential and increasing participation in the sport.
The regional championships mark a crucial step towards achieving these goals and putting Malawi on the map in international athletics competitions.