By Edwin Mbewe

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The President of the Table Tennis Association, Kelechi Kenneth Chinatu, has expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by Malawi’s athletes ahead of the 2026 AUSC Region 5 Youth Games scheduled to take place in Maputo, Mozambique this December.

Chinatu said he is impressed with the commitment and progress shown by the players during training, noting that the team is well-positioned to compete at a high level during the regional competition.

Currently, Team Malawi is in camp at the Bingu National Stadium, where they are undergoing intensive training.

This marks their fourth training camp since preparations for the tournament began, reflecting a structured and consistent build-up toward the games.

He further expressed confidence that Malawi can secure gold medals at the tournament, emphasizing that the current squad has valuable international experience.

Most of the athletes previously represented the country at the 2025 Youth Games in Namibia, an exposure he believes has significantly strengthened their competitive edge.

“Our athletes have gained important experience from past competitions, and this gives us strong hope for gold medal performances in Maputo,” said Chinatu.

Despite the optimism, Chinatu called on the Malawi Government to increase investment in table tennis.

He stressed that the sport holds great potential to bring glory to the nation if given adequate support and resources.

“Table tennis has a bright future in Malawi. With more investment, we can achieve even greater success on the international stage,” he added.

Chinatu also expressed gratitude to the Malawi Sports Council for its continued support toward the team’s preparations, describing the assistance as crucial in ensuring the athletes are ready for the upcoming games.

The AUSC Region 5 Youth Games, to be held in Maputo, Mozambique, will bring together young athletes from across Southern Africa, providing a platform for emerging talent to showcase their skills on a regional stage.