Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga in ABEOKUTA, Nigeria
AFTER winning a silver medal on the first day of the Confederation of African Athletics Under-18/Under-20 Championships at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Tatenda Chindowa says there is still more to come from him.
Chindowa picked Team Zimbabwe’s first medal when coming second in high jump Under-18 men with a 2.03m jump on Wednesday night.
The young athlete, a silver medallist at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games said he felt motivated going into the event.
“My strength today was the fact that I got a silver medal at Region 5. I was like I can go 2m because 2m has been a barrier I wanted to clear for almost two years.
“And I was just like I can do 2m, I can do 2.10m,” said Chindowa.
The 16-year-old is already looking at next year’s African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games and the next edition of the CAA Under-18/Under-20 Championships.
“A lot more work, more gold medals, next year is Region 5 Mozambique and 2027 CAA Under-18 /Under-20,” he said.
It has been a bag of mixed fortunes for Team Zimbabwe with most of the athletes that have competed so far in 100m heats and 400m heats bowing out in the heats.
From the 100m heats, in the Under-20, only Trey Chimunya and Methembe Tshuma reached the final of the Under-20 men that was scheduled for late yesterday while Trevor Tauya could not go past the semi-final round.
Chimunya advanced to the final when finishing second in heat one of the two semi-final heats in 10.54seconds.
Tshuma posted a time of 10.58seconds to finish third in the same heat.
Tauya, also running in heat one, placed seventh in 10.82seconds.
Chimunya, Tshuma and Tauya had on Wednesday pulled through from the first-round heats.
In the Under-18 men 400m heats, which also took place on the opening day Ropafadzo Muzondo was fourth in heat three with a time of 49.57seconds and progressed to today’s final.
Also, in action today is Watipa Mandishona in the Under-20 men’s 110m hurdles.
In the Under-18 women triple jump Ruvimbo Vengesayi came ninth with a leap of 11.03m.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendayi Tagara, who is also here, said the championships is a platform for a reality check on the progress and work that still needs to be done.
“This is critical and I was happy on the first day of the competition. These young lads participating in this, they see the difference between a national championship and a regional championship.
“Remember, most of them were dominating in Namibia (at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games),’’ Tagara said.
“This is a completely different competition, you are now fighting against 54 countries. It gives them the understanding that in terms of training, we must push.
“In terms of coaches, we must push. Everybody now sees that we must up the game in terms of performance.
“I am happy with the experience they are getting here. When the coaches are saying we are not working, they understand what it means because they have been pushed to the limit,” said Tagara.
However, he added that it’s also important for their profiles and getting scholarships.
“Another objective is there are a lot of scouts from overseas who are here from universities in America. They will be watching them for scholarships.
“This competition helps their CV in terms of when they are applying for scholarships. This is the stage where they are recognised by the scholarship agents.
“So, it is critical they came here for their CVs. It is critical to run PBs. It is critical that they do their best.
“That is what I am expecting. A medal to me, to these youngsters, is a positive plus,” said Tagara.
Peter Tanyanyiwa