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Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter
IN an effort to expose more of their athletes to major competitions, Zimbabwe Swimming are set to field an increased number of swimmers at the forthcoming Africa Aquatics Junior Championships in Mauritius.
The Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming and Open Water Championships are set for December 6 to 9.
It was initially pencilled for September in Sudan.
Zimbabwe Swimming named a 16-member team yesterday comprising of eight girls and an equal number of boys.
Most of the team members represented the country at the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Youth Games last December in Malawi where some of them got podium performances.
Zimbabwe Swimming chairperson Zanele Nkomazana said they have increased the numbers for the upcoming championships so that more swimmers get the needed exposure for their growth.
“In the past we have sent four swimmers — two girls, two boys. So we decided this year (to send more swimmers), because we are trying to grow our sport and expose as many of our swimmers to this competition basically for them to enjoy it and to want to do more.
“We are looking beyond Paris 2024, so this our main squad. Majority of them went to Region Five Games and they were a development squad that we sent to Region Five. This is the squad that regrouped. Part of this squad also is going to go to African Games in Ghana (next year).
“So we are preparing them for the four years to come. This is our main squad that we want to make they get Olympic times for 2028.
“So we have given them enough time to prepare for this competition. We have given more swimmers an opportunity to attend this continental gala instead of four,” said Nkomazana.
The swimmers were selected from a squad of about 25 swimmers that was put together last season in preparation for the championships before the dates and venue were changed.
Nkomazana said they are looking at the long term development of their athletes, targeting major future competitions such as the 2028 Olympic Games.
“In the past our swimmers have done extremely well . . . We have managed to pick some medals.
“We basically at the moment are looking more outside podium performance. They can bring medals but we also want them to experience all these galas, to know what it means to compete continentally because it starts from there all the way up.
“So we cannot send everyone to World Championships, we cannot send everyone to Junior World Championships but we must give an opportunity for a bigger number to attend regional and continental championships. This is what we are doing.
“We obviously know that if we get qualifiers for Paris, we have potentials for 2028. So that’s our long term plan to get qualifiers for Olympics 2028, and it won’t start a year before, it starts now. This is the time,” said Nkomazana.
Team
Girls: Tori Dawe, Vhenekai Dhemba, Taya Gray, Mkhuseli Mahobele, Mikayla Makwabarara, Matida Musere, Saira Ramajan, Susie Worsfold.
Boys: Tawanda Chisungo, Jayden De Swardt, Tawanda Jani, Tichatonga Makaya, Bjorn Mhlanga, Onesimus Ngwenya, Liam Rumball, Emmanuel Sibanda.
Coaches: Phawulani Ngwenya, Kathy Lobb.
Manager: Stacy Bhana.
Online Reporter