Zim in last event at Paralympics

Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE wrap up their participation at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games today with Vimbai Zvinowanda competing in the women’s 200m T47 at the Olympic Stadium. 

The round one heats were scheduled for this morning and the final is also slated for today.

Zvinowanda reached the qualifying mark for the Games at a qualifying event in Dubai early this year. She is up against Japan’s Sae Tsuji, Saska Sokolov from Serbia, Angelina Lanza of France, South Africa’s Anrune Weyers and Lu Li of China, in heat three.

The first tw, in each heat and next two fastest progress to the final scheduled for today.

Zvinowanda’s personal best is 28.90 seconds, which is also her season best, while France’s Lanza has the leading time of 25.01 seconds, in this heat. 

Sokolov has the second best time of 25.51 seconds and Li comes in with a personal best of 25.71 seconds. However, the Zimbabwean athlete will be hoping to make the top two, in the heat, to make the finals.

And, based on the times posted by the other athletes, she will have to up her game.

“I am excited to be here, we have been getting so much support from the chef de mission, and the coach, and it just motivates you,” said Zvinowanda.

“It may be a challenge (lack of competition ahead of the Games) but I am confident because we have tried to compensate for that, through training.

“I will try my level best and I expect to compete well.’’

With the country fielding only two athletes, at the Games, Zvinowanda will be the last Zimbabwean athlete, to compete.

Pamela Shumba had her race on Wednesday and failed to make the semi-finals of the women’s 100m T12.

She came fourth in Heat One. 

However, she set a new personal best and said she was pleased to have improved her time. 

Zvinowanda and Shumba have been working with coach, Midred Baye, for these Games.