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Ellina Mhlanga, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE National Paralympic Committee secretary general Lewis Garaba has expressed concern over the failure to send their athletes for qualification competitions for this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

ZNPC were hoping to send eight athletes for the Tunis International Meeting – the IPC Athletics Grand Prix which ended on Sunday but failed to raise funds for the trip.

So far two athletes, Shepherd Gumede and Laina Sithole have attained qualification standards for the Games but they still have to go for classification for them to be eligible to compete in Brazil.

“If we fail to get money to go for these qualifying competitions it means it might be difficult for us to go to Rio.

“It also means our numbers for the qualifiers will lessen because we may be forced to take only those two who need classification and should they also fail to go for classification they won’t be able to compete in Rio.

“It’s a difficult situation on our side, we are trying to raise money for other upcoming events but things are difficult for everyone,” said Garaba.

Gumede attained qualification in the 400m T13 while Sithole qualified in the 100m and 200T13.

The national Paralympic Committee have indicated that this year they are focusing more on athletics, which they believe stands a chance of better performance at the Games.

ZNPC are now hoping that they can get funding for the upcoming Moroccan International Athletics Meeting scheduled for May.

The event is set to run from May 2 to 7. The first three days from May 2 to 4 will be for classification and the actual competition is set for May 5 to 7.

Garaba yesterday said they were hoping to send a bigger team for this year’s Games compared to the previous edition where they had two athletes but with their current financial state it might be difficult.

“Our intention was to grow the numbers than the one we had before because it increases our chances of getting medals at the Games.

“Looking at the closing dates (for the Moroccan International Athletics Meeting) and considering that the entries for the event have just opened chances are very high we can go to Morocco,” said Garaba.

Zimbabwe last won a medal at the Paralympic Games in 2004 through Elliot Mujaji in the 100m event in Athens, Greece.

This was his second medal at the Games having won his first in 2000 in Sydney, Australia in the same event. Since then Zimbabwe has failed to get podium performances.

In the previous edition held in London, in 2012, Mujaji and wheelchair tennis player Nyasha Mharakurwa represented the country at the Games but found the going tough.