Malawi’s five athletes hope to achieve some records at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games underway in Japan.

Malawi’s team comprises five athletes—Harriet Boniface (Judo), Jessica Makwenda and Philipe Gomez (swimming), Asimenye Simwaka (athletics) and David Areno (archery).

Speaking before departure in Lilongwe, Boniface told Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) media that he was geared up for the Olympics.

 “I have prepared thoroughly. The two weeks’ camp will also help me to fine tune as I will link with my coach (Ryoma Kudo) who is already there,” he said.

MOC website says part of the Malawi Team delegation left for Japan on July 10 without Makwenda and Filipe Gomez.

Leader of Delegation, MOC Vice-President, Flora Mwandira, told the website that said the three athletes travelled early for training in Ota City, while Gomez and Makwenda left on July 17.

Mwandira said she was confident that Malawi Team can achieve something at the tournament.

“Asimenye, who is a short distance, is the most improving and outstanding athlete who recently won gold medal in Cameroon. However, she missed Olympics qualification by milliseconds,” Mwandira told the website.

 “He performed very well, but missed with an inch. Looking at his progress, IOC and International Archery Federation have considered him on tripartite basis.”

Malawi has never produced a qualified athlete for the Olympics let alone win a medal. Athletes go to the Games on solidarity.

The 2020 Olympic Games, which were postponed last year, will run from July 22 to  August 8 in Japan.