Malawi scoops five medals at Pan African Games
Team Malawi has made a huge impression at the first-ever Pan African Special Olympic Games in Cairo, Egypt, after collecting five medals, including two gold.
A results sheet from the competition shows that Malawi’s Desire Namaona won a gold medal in the 100 metres category after clocking 00:16:28, beating three other contestants in the category for females under F02 on Tuesday.
The 16-year-old Namaona, who is based in Lilongwe, outpaced 15-year-old Moroccan Dounia Rhadi who clocked 00:16:45 followed by her compatriot Hafsa Talib (00:19:82), then Ikrame Benmaimcu, 15, after finishing the distance in 00:23:25.
Still in the females’ category for division F03, Mchinji-based Agnes Masuso earned a gold medal in 100 metres after finishing the distance in 00:13:85.
The 18-year-old Masuso beat compatriot Clara Phiri of Karonga District, who settled for silver after clocking 00:14:55 with the bronze medal going to yet another Malawian Phylles Supuliano (16) in 00:14:97.
Supuliano’s twin sister, Wemma, settled for silver in the 800 metres relay which had six contestants. The twins come from Blantyre.
The latest medals add to the 52 which athletes that Special Olympics Malawi manages have earned in other competitions such as last year’s Summer World Games in Abu Dhabi.
The Games, that involve intellectually challenged persons, started on January 23 and are expected to wind up tomorrow under the auspices of African Union Chairperson, Egypt President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
The Games encompass sports and non-sports events. The continental competition has pooled 800 athletes from 42 countries competing in football, basketball and athletics.
Special Olympics manages the world games that are meant to provide sports experience and help create a positive attitude and bring permanent change towards inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
