dyton mupawaenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe Junior National Championships have just got a little bigger and probably better.
This follows a record number of female participants for the meet scheduled for White City Stadium, in Bulawayo, today.
Observers have noted how this unprecedented level of participation is a powerful indicator of the growing interest, investment, and belief in the future of female athletes in Zimbabwe.
Over 200 junior women athletes from all the 10 provinces have registered to compete across various track and field events, surpassing previous records by more than 30 percent.
“This is not just a number; it is a marked movement.
“It is also proof that the girl child is rising in the sporting arena,” said Manuel Mpofu, NAAZ director of competitions.
“We are seeing incredible talent from rural and urban schools, from grassroots to club level, and it’s a proud moment for the country.
The championships, which serve as a qualifier for the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games in Namibia this July, are also a showcase of Zimbabwe’s readiness to build competitive female sports talent capable of making an impact on the regional and international stage.
This milestone aligns with the goals of the NAAZ Five-Year strategic plan (2024-2028), which prioritises gender inclusion, talent development, and equal access to resources and platforms for all athletes.
The NAAZ executive committee, led by president Tendayi Tagara, continues to call upon stakeholders – corporates, development partners, and communities – to rally behind this movement and help create an ecosystem that nurtures the dreams of Zimbabwe’s young sportswomen.
The competition is expected to draw over 30 000 spectators, making it one of the largest youth athletics gatherings in Zimbabwe’s recent history.
The increase in the number of female participants is just one of many sub-plots and storylines heading into today’s competition.
Top of the list is the fact that the NAAZ Junior National Championships will be final selection round for Team Zimbabwe, who have a few continental meets coming up.
Zimbabwe will be sending a team to the African Council Region 5 Youth Games in July.
The month of July will also see the staging of the Africa 18 and Under-20 Championships that will both be held in Algeria.
Today’s meet in Bulawayo comes a week after selectors had a chance to see some of their athletes take part in National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) national competition held in Bindura last weekend.
Now the national champs provide athletes with the last and yet vital opportunity to make the grade for Team Zimbabwe to Namibia and Algeria.
Online Reporter