LOCAL universities students that took part in the sixth edition of the African Universities Sport Federation Games held recently in Windhoek, Namibia raised the country's flag high as they scooped six medals.

Zimbabwe sent only eight athletes with five of them taking part in the track and field events while the other three competed in tennis and chess out of the nine sporting disciplines that were on offer.

The Games featured 18 countries from the continent and Zimbabwe were sixth behind Egypt, Algeria, Namibia, Botswana and Ghana.

Most of the medals came from the track and field events with Vongai Chamunorwa winning the only gold medal for the nation in the 5 000m event. She went on to win a bronze medal in the 1 500m event.

Clive Mbewe got silver in the men's high jump and a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles while Tendai Mafemera added another silver in Javelin. Phesly Mufunda scooped a bronze medal in tennis.

Zimbabwe Universities Sports Association president, Liberty Maidza said the team did well despite being the smallest team at the Games.

"Initially we intended to send a bigger team, we had selected 42 athletes but we were affected by exams, some of our athletes were writing exams and some had finished and had to take only eight athletes.

"That is our biggest challenge because our universities are not synchronised and this affects us, even when we have our local Games.

"This was our first time to send a team for these Fatsu Games since they started and this was the sixth edition.

"Generally this was a good showing by Zimbabwe, getting there and winning some medals with a small team," said Maidza.