PARA-ATHLETES READY TO SHINE AT GAPS AFRICA TRAINING CAMP

Three Zambian para-athletes have been selected to participate in the GAPS Africa training camp by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

The camp will provide development opportunities for athletes and coaches to prepare for the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games, a competition opportunity to support qualification standards, and a pre-screening opportunity for classification.

The selected athletes are Salome Namukonda, Gift Nkuwa, and Mercy Chinyanta. The coaches who will accompany them are Edwin Wasamunu, Musonda Chiwela, and Sharon Kabwe. They will be participating in the training camp focusing on the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Youth Games.

Zambia's representatives will compete in field events Discus, Shotput, and Javelin throw during the training camp to be held from 15-22 March 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa.

From left to right: Salome Namukondya, Gift Nkuwa and Mercy Chinyanta

Coach Musonda Chiwela from Kasama, expressed his expectations from the training camp. He believes that the knowledge they will acquire will help them compete well in future events. He also believes that the training will not only help coaches but also the athletes who will be exposed and will benefit in their future competitions.

Moses Chishimba, the National Paralympic Committee of Zambia (NPCZ) Secretary-General, is hopeful that the selected athletes will receive a new level of motivation, especially since they are young, and they expect a long future with them. He believes that with these opportunities, the number of athletes competing in international engagements will increase. He is also hoping that the three athletes selected can be classified to make the pool larger.

The National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association of Zambia collaborated with NPCZ to identify potential para-athletes and coaches that can benefit from the GAPS Africa programme in preparation for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago of which an application was submitted for Zambia to be part of the programme.

The GAPS Africa training camp will give an opportunity for the participants to secure qualification for the TRINBAGO 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games to be held later this year.

The stage is set for Zambia's young para-athletes and coaches to shine at the upcoming GAPS Africa training camp, where they will hone their skills and knowledge in preparation for the highly anticipated Commonwealth Youth Games. The excitement among the selected participants is noticeable, as they gear up to showcase their talent and passion for their respective field events.

The team at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport before departure today

The training camp promises to be an exceptional opportunity for the Zambian contingent to gain exposure and learn new techniques, propelling them to greater heights in the world of para-sport. With an eye towards increasing the country's representation in international engagements and elevating the performance of its para-athletes, this is a chance for Zambia to leave a mark on the global stage.

As they set off for Cape Town, South Africa, today, the participants are brimming with anticipation, eager to take on the challenge and prove themselves worthy of representing their country in Trinidad and Tobago later this year. The stakes are high, but the passion, determination, and drive of the Zambian para-athletes and coaches are higher still, as they look forward to making their mark on the world stage.