Swimmers set sights on C’wealth Games

What you need to know:

  • Tumiotto, who claimed 14 gold medals in this year’s Africa Swimming Federation (Cana) Zone Three Championships at Heaven of Hope Academy in the city, is a member of Dar es Salaam Swimming Club (DSC).

Tanzania’s swimming sensation Sonia Tumiotto is among four swimmers who will represent the country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Tumiotto, who claimed 14 gold medals in this year’s Africa Swimming Federation (Cana) Zone Three Championships at Heaven of Hope Academy in the city, is a member of Dar es Salaam Swimming Club (DSC).

Unveiling the squad yesterday, Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) secretary general, Ramadhan Namkoveka, said Tanzania would field swimmers in the men’s and women’s categories at the games opening on April 4.

Namkoveka named other swimmers as Celina Itatiro, Collins Saliboko and Hilal Hemed Hilal.

Itatiro and Tumiotto will compete in the women’s category at the 12-day games while Saliboko and Hilal will battle it out for top honours in the men’s series.

Itatiro is also a member of DSC and Hilal features for Tallis Swimming Club while Saliboko and Collins is from Morogoro International School (MIS).

But Saliboko and Tumiotto are now studying at St Felix School in Great Britain, according to the TSA official.

“The four swimmers have been selected on merit. They performed impressively in both domestic and international competitions held in Tanzania and abroad this year,” he said.

“If you may recall, they are among swimmers who won medals in this year’s National and Africa Zone Three Championships at the Heaven of Peace Academy in Dar es Salaam,” he added.

According to Namkoveka, they are also among swimmers constituting the national provisional squad ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo, Japan.

He said TSA would ensure the swimmers undergo adequate preparations before heading to Australia for the multi-sport event.

“We are optimistic that they (swimmers) will do us proud at the Gold Coast Games despite various challenges facing the sport,” said Namkoveka.

As of now, Hilal is shaping up for the Club Games in Dubai while Itatiro trains in Dar es Salaam.

International Academy (DIA) under the tutelage of coaches Kanisi Mabena and Michael Livingstone.

Like Tumiotto, Saliboko also made a mark at the Cana Zone Three Championship, winning 15 medals in various disciplines, while Hilal claimed two gold medals and a bronze.

CAPTION

Tanzania’s swimmer Collins Saliboko competes in the African Swimming Federation (Cana) Zone Three Championships at Heaven of Peace Academy (Hopac) in Dar es Salaam last month. He is among four swimmers who will represent the country in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. PHOTO| FILE