Another 2012 London Olympics qualifiers hitch

Barely two days after the Weightlifting Association of Malawi failed to send an athlete to a 2012 London Olympic games qualifying tournament in Kenya, it has transpired that taekwondo athletes also missed their qualifiers two months ago due to communication breakdown.

Taekwondo Association of Malawi (TAM) claims it has been failing to communicate with its continental body to confirm dates for the qualifiers only to discover that the event was held in January.

“We have been writing e-mails to the African Taekwondo Federation since last year, but we got no response. We also tried to make enquires through the World Taekwondo Federation and there was still no response until last week when they told us the qualifiers were done in January,” said TAM president Benedicto Tsinde.

According to information on www.moroccoonthemove.worldpress.com the African taekwondo qualifiers for the 2012 Olympics were held in Egypt’s capital city Cairo from January 8-12.

Tsinde, however, said Malawi still has a chance to make it to London as there is space for four countries who will be decided by drawing of lots by the games’ tripartite commission on July 9 2012.

“We are just praying that we should be among the lucky four to be picked,” said Tsinde.

About 85 competitors, from 30 countries, took part in the qualifiers in Egypt.

Meanwhile, the Boxing Association of Malawi (Maba) has said it is still looking for funds to send boxers to the Africa Olympic qualifiers in Casablanca, Morocco from April 27 to May 5.

Maba general secretary Arthur Nanthulu said at the moment they only have K500 000 ($3 000) which they received from MOC.

National weightlifting champion Thoko Kakhongwe failed to leave for the Kenya games on Monday due to lack of funds.