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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
LOCAL swimmers have something to look forward to when competition resumes with the National Senior and Junior Championships expected to return for the 2021-2022 season.
The championships had to be shelved during the 2020-2021 season when all sporting activities were suspended in January.
The Zimbabwe Aquatic Union had to adjust their calendar with a number of competitions affected, including the Senior and Junior Championships. However, the 2021-2022 last half of the season resumes this January after a break for the festive season and besides provincial competitions, the national championships are expected to go ahead this time around.
The Senior Championships are pencilled for February 17 to 21 at Les Brown Swimming Pool in Harare and the Junior National Championships are set for March 12 and 13 in Bulawayo.
ZAU president, Mary Kloppers, said they are hopeful of staging the championships.
“We are hoping that we are going to be able to have the full country together for the nationals, Covid permitting. If we can’t meet physically altogether then there will be a virtual gala I am sure, where all the results for provinces are put together.
“But we really hope that we can come together as usual, as in the past, and have our full championships,” said Kloppers.
The first half of the season has seen some encouraging performances and times from the swimmers mostly in the provincial competitions.
But, Kloppers bemoaned the limited number of competitions that have also been worsened with the prevailing environment.
Recently three of the swimmers that were set to represent the country at the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates could not travel due to the travel bans.
Kloppers said despite the setbacks, they continue planning for the international events as usual.
“So the swimmers have been able to continue training, so I am not too concerned about their performance, the problem is lack of competition.
“But we just put our heads down and carry on as best as we can to get through this Covid period and then see what we can come out with.
“So we are planning for international competitions as if we are going and the only thing that will stop us is Covid.” On the international scene, Zimbabwe are set to field at least four swimmers at the FINA World Swimming Championships in May, in Fukuoka, Japan.
The global meet was originally supposed to take place in August this year but it was pushed back to accommodate the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games that were held from July 23 to August 8 this year.
The World Championships are scheduled to take place from May 13 to 29.
Kloppers said while they cannot guarantee qualification from local swimmers, there is the opportunity of wildcards and are hoping to have participants at the meet.
“We will have participants. At this stage I can’t guarantee that we will actually have a qualifier but our aim is to have at least four participants that’s for wildcards. There are four slots – two male and two female.
“It will be top senior points – two top senior male and female based on current performance,” Kloppers said.
The qualification period is already open and is running until May 1, 2022.
Online Reporter