Sports

Miseries pile up for ‘Team Tanzania’ at London Olympics

TANZANIA continued to suffer further disappointment at the London Olympic Games after another swimmer, Magdalena Moshi, failed to make it past his qualifying heat.

She had the worst time of all swimmers, who competed in the 100 metres freestyle (women), posting 1 minute, 5 seconds and 80 points in heat 2 that comprised swimmers. Moshi (21), who also features for Clovercrest club in Adelaide, Australia, failed to even reach her personal best time of 1:05:11.

Current world record holder in 100metres freestyle is Sullivan Eamon in 47.05 seconds attained at the Beijing Olympic Games in China in 2008. Moshi became the third athlete to have dashed Tanzania hopes for medal in the games after fellow swimmer Ammaar Ghadiyali fluffed in men's 100m freestyle at the Aquatics Centre in London's Olympic Park on Tuesday.

Ghadiyali performed poorly after finishing last but one among the 56 –swimmers. The 15-years old swimmer, who joined the team on the eleventh hour only managed to beat Burundi counterpart Binobagira Beni Bertrand, who finished last. Ghadiyali, who finished third among four in his heat posted 1.01.07, while the Burundian clocked 1.04.57.

On Sunday, the country’s sole boxer in the games Selemani Kidunda also made an early exit at the London Olympics after he lost his bout against Vasilii Belous from the Republic of Moldova. Kidunda lost the round of 32 bout by 7-20 points and waved goodbye to the perennial games, only to vindicate concerns over poor preparations afforded to local athletes ahead of the games.
For many years Tanzania's medal hopes have been banked on boxing and athletics and Kidunda's defeat has all but casted a big cloud on the ability of the country's athletes to bring back medals.

Tanzania captain Samson Ramadhani and Zakia Mrisho will also be the athletes to watch at Olympic Games. Ramadhani will feature in the marathon and Mrisho, who will race in 5,000m (women) are the ones with requisite experience to realistically contest for medals.

Ramadhani won marathon gold at Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia with time of 2:11:29 six years ago and has been active, racing in various city marathons around the world. Two years ago he recorded his best time in Hannover Marathon, finishing second with 2:09:46.  Marathon Olympic winning time in Beijing was 2:06:32. But the 30-year-old Tanzania People’s Defence Forces sergeant believes anything can happen. Others in the team are Msenduki Mohammed and Faustine Mussa (marathon).