Kirsty to lead Team Zim

Sports Correspondent
SWIMMING sensation Kirsty Coventry will be the country’s flag bearer at next month’s African Games in Congo Brazzaville after she was named Team Zimbabwe’s captain. The 11th edition of the African Games will run from September 4-19. Coventry, 31, got the nod ahead of United States-based sprinters Ngoni Makusha and Gabriel Mvumvure.

One of the country’s brightest medals hopefuls, Makusha, pulled out of the team after he ruptured his tendon during training.

Sources said Coventry had not yet been informed, but revealed that she was selected solely on merit having represented the country well on many occasions for more than a decade.

“I can confirm that Coventry has been named Team Zimbabwe captain for the African Games. Her appointment was strictly based on merit but we are not taking anything away from the other nominees,” said the source.

Coventry qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games’ women’s 100M backstroke last week during the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia after clocking a time of two minutes 10,60 seconds.

Coventry is a seven-time Olympic medalist.

About 100 athletes and 20 officials will represent Zimbabwe at the continent’s biggest sporting showcase.

Zimbabwe will take part in athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, men’s football, tennis, swimming, karate, judo, taekwondo and sports for people with disabilities.