The Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) has applauded the Draughts Malawi national team for winning 9 medals (5 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) at the just ended African Draughts-64 championship which took place from 8-15 July, 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia.
The medals were won through Susane Kachepa who won 5 gold and 1 bronze in the female category while Enock Banda won 2 silver and 1 bronze in the male category.
MNCS board member and Chairperson of the Sports Development committee Mrs. Helen Tasosa Mpinganjira welcomed and hosted the team to a luncheon at MNCS office in Blantyre.
Speaking during the welcoming ceremony Tasosa Mpinganjira explained that as Council they are very proud of the achievement that the team has made at the tournament.
‘’Suzane brought in 5 gold and 1 bronze, Enock brought 2 silver and 1 bronze, that achievement honestly speaking its something which we have to appreciate, it has never happened in the history of Malawi that a single person could win 5 gold medals at a single tournament, so we are very proud,’’ explained Tasosa Mpinganjira.
Making his remarks, General Secretary of Draughts Association of Malawi Suzgo Nkhoma thanked MNCS for assisting the team to go and compete at African Draughts-64 championship.
‘’We went there to compete and you have all seen the fruits, we are back home with 9 medals and 5 five of them are gold medals, as Malawi we have made history and we are delighted as an association. It was so exciting especially during the closing ceremony as our national anthem was sung five times. Overall, we performed well,’’ explained Banda.
During the tournament, because of her impressive performances Suzane Kachepa was given the title of Female International Master to make her the first female International Master in Africa. Kachepa thanked God for her achievements.
‘’It was a very difficult tournament because we had players from eleven countries, so to be number one in the women category was not easy, I just thank God that he gave me wisdom and guidance for me to be number one,’’ explained Kachepa.
By winning gold and silver respectively at the tournament, Kachepa and Banda have automatically qualified for the 2024 world Draughts championship that will take place in October in Turkey.
Out of the 12 medals that are supposed to be won at the tournament Malawi managed to win 9 and topped the medal table with 5 gold followed by Zambia with 3 gold, Russia with three gold and Uganda with 1 gold
The African Draughts-64 championship was competed by eleven countries which include Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, DR Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana. The United States of America and Russia participated at the championship as guest countries.