Simwaka is Team Malawi’s flag bearer
The country’s multi-talented athlete Asimenye Simwaka is set to lead Team Malawi during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Birminghma Commonwealth Games having been named flag bearer.
Simwaka is at the Games after breaking natinal records in 100 metres, 200m, and 400m.
The Malawi National Football Women Team striker qualified for the competition following her impressive performance at the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius last month.
Team Malawi’s Chef De Mission Henry Sakala said Simwaka fits the role.
“We did not unveil our flag bearer earlier because it was part of our plan to build excitement in the team. But we feel this is the right time and we are excited to have her in this role.”
Sakala said.
According to sports.inquirer.net, flag-bearing duties are reserved for the best athlete/s of a country whereas Wikipedia indicated that a flag-bearer is the athlete who carries the flag of their country during the opening and closing ceremonies.
Sakala said, team Malawi was set for the global showpiece.
He said members of the swimming squad will be the first to compete for Malawi tomorrow, followed by netball on Saturday.
“The Team is ok and morale is high ahead of the Games. We are expecting better performances from all our athletes in this competition.”
Sakala said.
He also disclosed that judo athletes will be in action on Monday.
Team Malawi has 23 athletes drawn from athletics, boxing, judo, netball and swimming.
Currently, Malawi is ranked 57th out of 61 countries on the Games’ overall standings having made its debut in the 1970 Commonwealth games in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Boxing is the only sports discipline to have won medals for the country.
The Game’s athletes lifted three bronze medals, with the last podium finish having been achieved in the 1986 Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.
This was when Lyton Mphande ans Solomon Kondowe finished third in their respective division’s contests.
Boxer Tatu Chionga was the first member of team Malawi to win a medal during the country’s debut participation in 1970.