Makusha best medal prospect for Zim

the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe for the World Championships at the end of this month.
The 13th International Association of Athletics Federation World Championships are set for Daegu, South Korea.
NAAZ president Joseph Mungwari yesterday said Makusha, who has turned professional, has a fair chance of reaching the finals for his events.

Makusha recently set a new national record in the 100m and also holds the best distance in the long jump.
Zimbabwe will also field crack middle distance runners Cutbert Nyasango and Thandiwe Nyathi.
The long striding Wirimai Juwawo has also been selected for the World Championships.

United States-based sprinter Gabriel Mvumvure also managed to secure a place while there are still doubts on veteran runner Brain Dzingai’s slot.
Mungwari said Dzingai has to qualify for his events before August 15.
“What we have is a very small team of athletes.

“Brain has been included in the team but he has to go on condition that he achieves the qualifying time by the 15th.
“This season Brian has set the World Championship as one of the events he has targeted but he is yet to qualify.
“But looking at the team, we would be happy if the athletes are able to reach the finals of their events.

“It is by reaching the finals that we can only dream of getting medals and I am sure Ngoni Makusha could be one of the finalists.
“Makusha has been doing well of late and it will be good if we have two or three athletes reaching the finals,” said Mungwari.
Mungwari said the athletes had been selected on merit after meeting the qualifying standards set by the IAAF.

“It’s the athletes themselves who have to work hard to achieve the set standards,” said Mungwari.
NAAZ director of talent identification and coaching Tendai Tagara will travel as the team manager.
Mungwari hopes the team will leave on August 25.

“At the moment we are trying to get visas for the team from the Korean Embassy here.
“If all goes well, I hope the team will depart on the 25th and arrive on the 26th of August,” said Mungwari.
The World Championships will run from August 27 to September 4.

After the IAAF event, the athletes are expected to head to Mozambique for the All-Africa Games.
“From Korea, the athletes are going to Mozambique with expectations being high again,” said Mungwari.