By SANDRA MWILA –

FOUR athletes have been selected to represent Zambia at the World Junior Track and Field Athletics Championships slated for Oregon, United States of America this month.
The world championships will run from July 22 to July 27 with the Zambian team leaving next Saturday, July 19.
National Youth coach Sydney Mushipi said the four-member squad was ready for the championship and expressed confidence the quartet would bring honour to the country.
Mushipi named the athletes as Brian Kasinda (200 metres) and Sydney Siame (200 metres), Shaddye Meru (400 metres) and Joseph Sinkala (long jump).
“The world championship is a high-level competition, we are aware it will be tough for the Zambian athletes but we are ready for the challenge,” he said.
The coach said the team was injury-free and ready to represent Zambia and that there was a possibility of winning medals at the championship.
“We can not guarantee medals because the world championship is a high-level competition but we shall reach the finals of the championship. But these guys are highly talented,” he said
Mushipi, who won a silver medal at the Africa Youth Games in Botswana, promised to bring back a medal for the country.
“I am 100 per cent ready for the championship and I will do my best, I have been training hard and I am focused to win a medal,” he said.
Kasinda’s personal best time is 21:02 seconds which is 1:80 seconds behind the world’s best runner, Usain Bolt and less than one second behind the Africa junior record held by South African, Riaan Drempers at 20.16 secs.
Siame said it was his first time to participate in a high-level championship but promised to do his best in Oregon.
Kasinda and Siame will, after participating in the World championship, proceed to China for the Nanjing Youth Olympics taking place from August 16-27.
Others participating in the Junior Olympics are Godfrey Chama (800 metres) and the only female runner, Abigal Chongo (200 metres).