Zambian swimmers mint 72 medals in Kigali

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 13:06:36 +0000

THE Zambian Swimming team finished second overall in the final standing at the Confederation Africaine de Natation Amateur (CANA) Zone III in Kigali, Rwanda over the weekend, where they minted 72 medals which included  16 gold.

The team arrived to an enthusiastic welcome at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka from the Zambia Swimming Union officials

On hand to receive the gallant swimmers was a three-man delegation from the National Sport Council of Zambia (NSCZ) led by Board Chairman, Prof. Mwamba Kalenga, Board Member Haroon Ghumra and General Secretary Col. Emmanuel Phiri.

Also present were Executive members form the Zambia Swimming Union (ZASU) who included Hon.

Secretary Nicola Sharpe-Phiri and Treasurer Sonjhi Shamambo as well as some of the parents were also on hand to receive the team.

The team which comprised 23 swimmers and 8 officials was led by ZASU president Guy Phiri.

Addressing the swimmers and officials in the VIP lounge at KKIA, Kalenga congratulated the Zambian team for their performance.

He also said that individual letters of congratulations would be sent to the swimmers by the Council.

Also speaking at the same event, NSCZ board member in charge of swimming, Haroon Ghumra said, the Sports Council was delighted with the swimmers performance.

Ghumra applauded the swimmers for their remarkable performance and urged them to train hard so that the could move swimming to a higher level.

He said that Zambia should now produce regional champion and continental champion and looking ahead to the future, to produce Commonwealth & Olympic championship.

Ghumra also commended the ZASU for their sound administration for the sport and also thanked the parents for their supporting role in the development of their childrens swimming careers.

Full results are as follows:

Zambia finished in close second place on 2,328 points behind Tanzania on 2,403 beating countries like Uganda on 2,061 points, South Africa on 1,066 and Rwanda on 876

The national team won a total of 72 medals with 16 individual gold, 19 Silver and 21 bronze medals plus Relays where 2 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze medals were won.

In  the individual medalists category, 12 medals were minted by Mia Phiri in the age group of 13-15 years.