By: Lloyd M’bwana
The country’s sore netball export Mwawi Kumwenda has worn the 2015 International World Games Association (IWGA) through a long month online voting which ended on Sunday, January 31 by scooping 17,910 votes against her runner up- the Flying Disc Beach Ultimate Mixed Team from Germany with 9,168 votes.
Announcing the winner on IWGA Website on Monday, February 1, Mwawi is expected to receive a trophy from IWGA and International Netball Federation (INF) which nominated her on this award.
INF nominated Mwawi after impressing during the 2015 World Netball Cup in New Zealand where she was voted player of the tournament with thereafter the country’s leading telecommunication service provider, Airtel Malawi on January 6, indorsed the sole her as its company’s campaign ambassador for the nation replacing Ivory Coast international soccer star Yaya Toure.
Mwawi was the only an African nominee among 18 shortlisted athletes from a cross-section of sports discipline across the world which participated in the online polls the IWGA’s website conducted from January 8 to 31, 2016.
Speaking through from her base in New Zealand where she is trading professional netball career with that country’s outfit Tactix, Mwawi lauded Malawians for rallying behind her with much support through voting saying the awards will be dedicated to her family, Malawi National Netball Team and the entire nation.
“I am very excited to receive this award and it’s an honor for me, and I thank God for that. This is a history for Malawi and entire Africa continent for achieving such a prestigious award. The award has put my country Malawi on map.
“My advice to those young boys and girls is that they must start with the same dream and remain focused on whatever are pursuing in their lives which might take where I have reached today. Don’t give up, continue working hard and don’t be discouraged by people around you”, urges Mwawi.
Minister of Sport and Development Grace Chiumia has not minced her words on Mwawi’s achievement saying Kumwenda has put the nation on the map while thanking participants who vigorously voted the athlete to win the award.
“We are very excited about the award because Mwawi has done wonders by putting Malawi on the map. Let’s continue giving her moral support on any competition she might participate in near future. Let me also thanks all Malawians and other African countries for such a lovely support for us to have a champion and it means, Malawi has won.
“It’s not a joke for Mwawi to get such a global award. We also thank God for guiding her and all of us for such an achievement. Therefore, it’s an awake up call for government to support all sport disciplines including netball in all levels that next time we come out with many athletes on this nature”, delighted Minister Chiumia.
Czech Republic’s Adam Ondra won the 2014 award after excelling in the sport of climbing. The International World Games Association is an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee whose aim is to develop the popularity of sports governed by its 37-member federations including INF. And IWGA’s objective is to conserve traditional values of sports through The World Games which take place every four years,
