ZIMBABWE’S top wheelchair racer, Stellah Jongwe has failed to secure sponsorship to travel to Japan for the 42nd Oita Wheelchair Marathon scheduled for Sunday.
Jongwe's participation would have given her a chance to qualify for the 2024 France Paralympics, but she has lost a golden opportunity to make a mark on the world stage.
She was supposed to have left for Japan yesterday.
“Now I am now used to rejection to the point that I now think twice before asking anyone for assistance,” a dejected Jongwe told NewsDay Sport.
Jongwe has won every wheelchair race she participated in since 2019, both in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“Oita Marathon was going to be the stepping stone to bigger opportunities and races.
”I was really looking forward to the race in Japan because I no longer have competition here in Zimbabwe,” she added.
“If I want to grow as an athlete, I should prove myself beyond the usual hunting ground. All I am saying is I am ready to catch a big game. I hope someone out there will hear us and come forward to provide us with the much-needed financial boost.”
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Jongwe's manager, Humphrey Vambe bemoaned lack of support for the para-athletes in Zimbabwe.
“We knocked at many doors to try to get corporates and individuals to help Stellah to race in Japan,” Vambe said.
“It was unfortunate that our efforts did not yield anything, and we even got to a point where we were shouted at, and our numbers blocked for merely asking for support.”
“As Zimbabweans we should change our attitude towards differently-abled people and foster a society that offers equal opportunities to everyone.”
According to Vambe, the recent setback sees Jongwe's racing future continue hanging in the balance as long as there is no financing support.
