The fourth edition of the Malawi Youth Games national finals is currently in full swing in Mzuzu, where 920 athletes are competing for national honours across seven sporting codes including, football, netball, basketball, volleyball, chess, athletics, and para-athletics.
The event began today Sunday, August 8, and will run through Tuesday, August 11, 2024. Competitions are being held at various venues, including Katoto Ground, Rosedale Court, Mzuzu University, and Mzuzu Stadium.
This year, an impressive 9,820 schools—2,800 primary and 7,020 secondary—registered for the games, with a total of 1,145,220 learners participating.
The games kicked off in May at the zone level for primary schools and the cluster level for secondary schools. Schools that excelled at these levels advanced to the inter-zone and inter-cluster finals. From there, the competition progressed to district and division levels, culminating in the national finals currently taking place.
Launched in 2021 by the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) and managed by the Malawi School Sports Association (MASSA), the Malawi Youth Games aim to nurture and identify sporting talent in public and private schools nationwide.
THE SEVEN EDUCATION DIVISIONS
South West Education Division (SWED) Nsanje, Chikwawa, Blantyre urban, Blantyre rural, Mwanza and Neno
South East Education Division (SEED) Zomba, Mangochi, Machinga and Balaka
Shire Highlands Education Division (SHED) Thyolo, Mulanje, Phalombe and Chiradzuro
Central West Education Division (CWED) Lilongwe east, Lilongwe west, Lilongwe urban, Ntcheu, Dedza and Mchinji.
Central East Education Division (CEED) Kasungu, Dowa, Ntchisi, Nkhotakota and Salima
North West Education Division (NWED) Karonga, Chitipa and Rumphi
North East Education Division (NEED) Mzuzu, Mzimba north, Mzimba south, Likoma and Nkhatabay
Last year, the Central West Education Division (CWED) emerged as the overall winners of the competition.