Simwaka gets lifeline for Olympics qualification
Local female athlete Asimenye Simwaka’s Tokyo Olympics qualification dream has been revitalised after getting a timely invitation to compete at the Cameroon National Championship this weekend.
The 22-year-old athlete’s hopes for the global showpiece qualification were misty following the indefinite postponement of the Africa National Championships initially scheduled for Algeria from June 22 to 26.
Simwaka, who is within touching distance of making history as the first Malawian to qualify for Olympics on merit, left the country yesterday alongside coach Pachichi Nyasulu.
However, male athlete Stern Lifa, who also stood a good chance of qualifying, will not travel to Cameroon as he is still nursing an injury he sustained during a tournament in Zambia last month.
Relief was the prevalent emotion for Simwaka who is set to compete in 400 metres category.
In an interview before departure, the athlete said she is set for the tournament.
“Preparations have gone on well and I am eager to realise my dream of qualifying for Olympics,” she said.
On his part, Nyasulu said Simwaka has been training hard ahead of the competition.
He said: “Of course, we had a drawback as she got ill at one point in the course of the preparations, but she is back on her feet again and raring to go.
“We have been working a lot on her finishing and that has to do with strategic running on how she can reserve enough energy to finish strongly.
“So, we are hoping for the best [because] definitely, it is her last chance and owing to good weather and her form, it should happen.”
Simwaka and Lifa made history by becoming the first local athletes to qualify for the 2021 Africa Athletics Championship following their stellar show at the All Corners Track and Field event held in Zambia in April this year where Lifa, 21, won bronze in 100 metres (m) after clocking 10.36 seconds to beat his previous personal record of 10.58 seconds. The qualification standard is 10.44.
Simwaka clinched bronze in 400m after clocking 52.59 seconds and the standard is 54.6.
To add extra spice, Simwaka, who also plays for the Malawi women’s national football team, broke the national record for 400m previously held by Ambwene Simukonda.
World Athletics, has set June 29 2021 as the deadline for reaching the qualifying mark to take part at the Olympics.
