Nasser Mafuru (right) fights with Hamis Kitenge during a past national championship. Mafuru takes on Ghanaian Jessie Lartey in the lightweight bout at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland today. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
Swimmers Ghadiyali, Hilal and Foum stole the show in qualifying heats on Thursday, but their points were not enough to assure them of places in the last 16
Dar es Salaam. After failing to win medals in the men’s 50m freestyle, women’s 50m breaststroke and table tennis at the 2014 Commonwealth Games on Thursday, Tanzanian athletes will be desperate to redeem themselves when they swing back into action today.
Swimmers Ammar Ghadiyali, Hilal Hilal and Mariam Foum stole the show in qualifying heats at Tollcross Swimming Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, but their points were not enough to assure them of places in the Last 16.
Ghadiyali, who clocked 28:11 seconds to finish top in heat one of the men’s 50m butterfly on Thursday, will compete in the 100m freestyle.
Hilal will battle it out for a ticket for the next stage in the 100m breaststroke and Magdalena Moshi, a vastly experienced swimmer, will feature in women’s 100m freestyle.
Tanzanian judokas also face baptism of fire as they are up against the pre-Glasgow Games favourites.
Geofrey Mtawa takes on Sri Lanka’s Jeewantha Wickramage in 100kg bout while his compatriot Masoud Omari Kombo confronts Wales’ Ruslan Rancer.
In boxing, Tanzania’s Ahmad Furahisha faces Paddy Barnes of Northern Ireland in light flyweight fight, while Nasser Mafuru takes on Ghanaian Jessie Lartey in the lightweight bout.
The day will also see Fabian Pius take on Steven Thanki of Malawi in lightwelter fight.
Joseph Martin, another Tanzanian boxer at the Games, will face Namibia’s Mujandjae Kasuto in the middleweight bout. Tanzania table tennis players also failed to live up to the billing on Thursday bight as they all faltered in the singles and doubles events.
Mwamvita Mohamed and Neema Mwaisyula lost 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-5) to Catherine Spicer and Aleena Edward of Trinidad in the women’s doubles.
In singles, Tanzanian Agnes Ngodoki crushed to a 3-0 (11-5, 11-5 and 11-7) defeat at the hands of Aleen Edward of Scotland.
In the men’s doubles, Yahya Mwingilwa and Masoud Mtalaso were beaten by Canadians Pierre Theriault and Zhen Wang. They lost 3-0 (11-2, 11-3, 11-1).
In singles, Andre Ho of Canada had little mercy on Tanzanian Amon Tumaini as he beat him 11-4, 11-3, 11-1, while Mtalaso tumbled 11-5, 11-3, 11-1 to Zhen Wang.
In Judo, Tanzanians also had nothing to cheer about as Mbarouk Mbarouk lost to Adrian Leat in the best 16 in the 73 kilogramme contest.
