Malawi’s hope of securing a 2012 London Olympic Games qualification has been heavily undermined after Kenya-based Mike Tebulo failed in the Botswana Marathon to meet qualifying time.
On Sunday, Tebulo clocked 2:20:23 hours to finish eighth, missing the standard mark of 2:18 hours. He effectively missed out on Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) qualifying time reward of K500 000 (about $3 000). MOC promises Olympics’ medal winners K1 million (about $6 000).
Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) vice-general secretary Mzee Makawa on Monday admitted that the prospect of producing a qualified athlete is slim after the failure of the top rated Tebulo.
United Kingdom based Ambwene Simkonda, Suzen Tengatenga and Chancy Master, currently training in Kenya, are the remaining prospects for the London Olympics to run from July 25 to August 12 2012.
“Simkonda performed well in UK 400 metres’ race after clocking 54:40 seconds to finish second against qualifying time of 52:40 seconds. Also in the UK, Suzen Tengatenga is promising in 100 metres and 200 metres. Master will also participate in Europe qualifying races. There is some hope between now and June,†said Makawa.
Ten athletes, two each from five disciplines, have been earmarked for the Games but taekwendo, weight lifting and boxing athletes are also ruled out after their respective associations were caught napping, failing to send their teams for qualifying competitions.
Malawi’s hope is now on the fifth disciplines of swimming whose squad is participating in 9th Cana Zone VI Championship at Maputo’s Zimpeto Swimming Pools from this Thursday to April 28 2012 in Mozambique.
Charlton Nyirenda is captaining the mens’ side with Kaitline Harthoorn as the females’ leader in the 21-member squad for swimmers.
Last week, MOC treasurer Jappie Mhango said if the earmarked 10 athletes failed to secure qualifying time, Malawi would send to London four athletes on Olympic Solidarity.
