By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Paralympic athletics team, currently in Marrakech, Morocco, for the World Para-athletics Grand Prix tournament, has secured four medals, one silver and three bronzes.
Athletes Mphatso Saukile, Moses Misoya, and Taonele Banda, categorized in T12 and T13 respectively, displayed outstanding performances aimed at qualifying for the forthcoming 2024 Paris, France Para Games slated for August this year.
During the Morocco tournament, Taonele Banda qualified for the Paris Paralympics in the 400m T13 category, with a minimum qualification time of 1.09 minutes. Banda managed the distance at 1.07.95.
With Banda’s qualification, the number of Malawian athletes who have qualified for the Paris Games has now reached two, following Mphatso Saukile’s qualification at the 2022 African Union Region Five Youth Games held at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. Saukile achieved a time of 53:78 seconds in the 400m T12 event, with the minimum entry qualification set at 54:00 seconds.
Malawi Paralympic Committee President James Chiutsi expressed extreme happiness for the achievements made by the athletes.
“We are excited as MPC. It’s evident that our long-term strategic plan, aiming for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, is effective. We congratulate the athletes and extend our gratitude to K2 Transformers, the Malawi government, and the IPC for their support. Our next activity is to prepare the athletes for the Paris September global games,” said Chiutsi joyfully.
Coach Agnes Chikwakwa Jamali, who also led the delegation, expressed excitement and happiness with the athletes’ performance.
“I am thrilled to bring home four medals from three athletes. It’s a great achievement. Additionally, qualifying one athlete for the Paris Games this year adds to our pride. We are the only sports association that has consistently qualified for world games like this over the years,” Jamali said.
The Marrakech tournament commenced on 26th and concluded on 28th April 2024, in Morocco’s capital, Marrakech, with 122 countries across the world competing.
Team Malawi is expected to depart from Marrakech, Morocco, today at 16:25 hours and is expected to touch down on home soil on 1st May 2024 through Kamuzu International Airport.