TAM introduces Champion of Champions Tournament
Taekwondo Association of Malawi (TAM) has used almost half of its annual subvention to organise a Champion of Champions Tournament.
The inaugural event, to be conducted at Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) on April 13, will consume K406 000, which is the remainder of the body’s K1 million allocation for this year from the Sports Council.
TAM national coach, Lovemore Masinga, told Nation on Sunday that the contest aims at identifying the country’s top-eight athletes to form the senior men’s national team.
The contestants are Medson Ntila and Martin Muwawa (Blantyre); Eric Kumbambe (Chiradzulu); Charlie Manyengo and Tedson Malikebu (Zomba); Yamikani Chimpeni (Salima) and Mzuzu’s George Mbewe and Hassan Wasili.
“Apart from identifying the best of the best taekwondo athlete in the country, we also want to keep our national team players active ahead of the international contests such as the African Taekwondo Championships because we do not want to be caught off guard when such opportunities arise,” said Masinga.
“The winner and the runner-up will take home K30 000 and K20 000 respectively while the rest of the participants will receive K15 000 each.”
He said they are also looking for funds to conduct a national competition for female athletes.
Taekwondo athletes last participated in an international competition in 2010, when they took part in the Kwanjangnim Southern African Championships in South Africa where Malawi won three gold and two silver medals.
The national team did not participate in the 2012 African Championships in Madagascar after failing to source K4 million for the trip.
