The 10th Edition of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 under 20 youth games in Lilongwe, Malawi concluded on Sunday 11th December 2022 with team Malawi acquiring 37 medals (2 gold, 10 silver and 25 bronze).
The result mean team Malawi has broken the record it set last year in Maseru, Lesotho where the team managed to win 29 medals. The sporting codes that managed to acquire medals for team Malawi include Taekwondo (11), boxing (4), athletics (11), judo (3), E-sports (2), football (2), volleyball (1) and basketball (3).
In taekwondo the medals came through Tionge Phiri who won silver in the women under 49 kg category, Mphatso Duwe who won silver in the women under 63 kg category, Henderson Mzonda who won silver in the men under 45 kg category, Brave Kamanga who won silver in the men under 48 kg category, Gift Ronex Lambulira who won silver in the men under 51 kg category, Henry Mzonda who won silver in the men under 55 kg category and Bosco Phiri who won bronze in the men under 59 kg category, Mayamiko Kamanga who won bronze in the men under 63 kg category, Milika Symon who won bronze in the women under 52 kg category, Rashida Saidi who won bronze in the women under 55 kg category and Blessings Nyirenda who won bronze in the women under 42 kg category.
In Boxing the medals were won through Ella Kaunda who won bronze and was fighting in the women under 51 kg category, Stella Zimba who won bronze and was fighting in the women under 54 kg category, Wilson Phiri who won bronze and was fighting in the men under 69 kg category and Precious Sabe who won bronze and was fighting in the men under 75 kg category.
Athletics was divided in two categories athletics Visually Impaired (VI) and athletics main stream. In Athletics VI the medals were acquired by Mphatso Saukile who won gold in the 400m men’s T12 after he finished on 53.78, Shakira Saizi who won silver in the 100m women T11 after she finished on 16.28, Estere Nagoli who won silver in the 200m women T11 after she finished on 33.87 and Doreen Masanza who won bronze in the 100m women T11 after she finished on 17.52, Eliza Kamanga who won bronze in the 200m women T 1after she finished on 31.18, Samuel Bosco who won bronze in the 200m men T11 after he finished on 15.13 and Moses misoya who won bronze in the 400m men T13 after he finished on 55.78.
In athletics main stream, the medals came from the 4X400m mixed relay team which won bronze after finishing behind Botswana and Zambia on 3:38.86, Ruth Phiri won two bronze medals in the women’s 5000m and 3000m race finishing on 18:00.92 and 10:23.70 respectively and Emmanuel kaphanda who won bronze in the men 3000m steeple chase after finishing behind South Africa and Botswana on 10:24.62.
Judo got their medals through Brave Chipokosa who won silver in the men under 73 kg category, Pephero tayali who won bronze in the women under 52 kg category and Madalitso Kachele who also won bronze in the men under 44 kg category.
Football managed to acquire two bronze medals as both teams (men and women) finished on third position. The women team finished behind South Africa and Zambia while the men team finished behind Zambia and South Africa.
The Malawi volleyball teams making their debut at the region 5 youth games did not disappoint as they managed to collect a bronze medal through the men team which finished on third position behind champions Zimbabwe and second placed South Africa.
The basketball teams (men and women) each managed to finish third and were awarded bronze medal in their respective competitions. The men team finished behind champions Angola and second placed Zambia while it was also the same for the women team as they finished behind champions Angola and second placed Zambia. However, the women team also managed to win bronze in the women 3×3 competition, the team finished behind the winners Angola and second placed Zambia.
E-sports was introduced at the games on trial basis to analyze if the sport can be included in the coming editions of the games and on its trial basis, Malawi managed to win gold through Jones Masiye in E-football and a silver medal through Frank nkunika in E-street fighter.
However, sporting codes such as netball, tennis, swimming and gymnastics did not manage to win any medal at the tournament.
