The country’s representatives at the Paralympic Games in Paris, France, Mphatso Saukire and Taonere Banda, continue to show promise in their preparations for the global competition with improved finishing times in the 400 metres (m) race.
The two runners with disabilities improved their finishing times when they competed against their able-bodied counterparts at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
Saukire completed the race in 52 seconds from the initial 53.25 seconds while Banda finished at 1:04 minutes from 1.06 minutes.
The minimum qualifying time for Banda’s 400m T13 race is 1:09 minutes and she beat it in Morocco about four months ago during a qualifying tournament.
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The two are currently in camp and will leave for France on August 21.
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The runners’ coach Agness Chikwakwa expressed joy with the new times.
“We have been working very hard in camp and today I am extremely happy for both Saukire and Banda. I am sure that, all factors being equal, we should bring a medal from France,” Chikwakwa said
Saukire, who will be in Paris after beating the 400m T12 category qualifying time of 54 seconds during the 2022 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games in Lilongwe, said he believes bringing home a medal is possible.
“I know that this is one of the biggest challenges ever in my career as an athlete and I am aware of the intense moments that we will encounter there. But I am not moved by whatever circumstances I will encounter there. I will just work really hard in training so that I do not let my country down,” he said.
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Banda said she feels energised with her new finishing time.
“I feel excited and energised with this improvement. This is motivating me to put more efforts into training so that I win a medal for Malawi. I appreciate the need to bring home something that my fellow countrymen can celebrate. I will do quite a lot in the remaining days so that I up my game. There should be no room for complacency,” she said.
Malawi Paralympic Committee Vice President Joseph Galanje said they are pushing for more efforts in training to further better the runners’ finishing times.
“We are very happy for what our athletes have achieved. We organised these test races to see how they will perform in France and we are convinced they will do better, judging from what we have seen on the ground,” he said.
In the women’s category, Banda beat seven other contestants to emerge winner while in the men’s, Saukire finished second behind Farook Mponda, who attained 49.96 seconds.
Joining Banda and Saukire in flying the Malawi flag in Paris are Moses Misoya and Estere Nagoli.
