Tanzanians athletes to start Games campaign on Thursday

Tanzanian athletes will start their Olympic Games campaign on Thursday with Magdalena Alex Moshi will be competing in swimming.

Tanzania Chief of the Mission Charles Nyange said yesterday that Khalid Shaka would compete in the men’s swimming competition on Friday.

Nyange said local runners would compete in 10,000m on August 15.

Athletes who will compete in 10,000m are Samwel Kwang’w Dickson Marwa and Fabian Joseph.

Other athletes who are in Beijing hunting for medals are Musenduki Mohammed Ikoki, Samson Ramadhani Nyoni and Getuli Amnaay Bayo who will compete in marathon.

There are also Zakaria Mrisho (5000m) and Samwel Mwera (800m).

In another development, the Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, George Mkuchika, appealed to the runners to try their best to win medals.

“All Tanzanians who are here and at home want to see you winning medals, they are all behind you. It is now your duty to make sure that you make them happy by winning as many medals as possible,“ Mkuchika said.

The team was last night expected to have a dinner with Tanzania Ambassador to China Omary Mapuri.

Tanzania won their last Olympic Games medals in Moscow in 1980 through Suleiman Nyambui and Filbert Bayi who won silver each.

• SOURCE: Guardian