Masilingi extends Newton stay

By Michael Uugwanga

LOCAL female sprinter, Beatrice Masilingi has signed a new contract with South African based Agency Newton Sports Agency, despite previous reported rumours which stated the talented sprinter was on the verge of leaving the agency.

Masilingi’s agent confirmed this latest development in the 19-year-old sprinter’s career which has been rocked by controversies.

The 100 and 200 metre (m) sprinter signed a professional contract alongside 2020 Olympic 200m silver medalist winner, Christine Mboma though Mboma later renegaded from her contractual obligations after a tug-of-war between her coach, Henk Botha and Newton Sports Agency.

Mboma is still with Botha.

Newton Sports Agency told Confdente that Masilingi would remain with the agency for another season although the agency could not give details regarding the length of the contract.

The agency further stated that they are now preparing Masilingi for next season.

Masilingi finished sixth in the women’s 200m race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, having made the final along with Mboma.

Despite her tender age, she has established herself as one of the best female sprinters in the world, having won silver medals in both the 100 and 200m race at the 2021 World U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

Her best achievements were in the 400m race where she finished second-fastest time at the world Under-18, and the third-fastest time in history at the World Under-20, with her marks of 50.42 and 49.53 seconds set in December 2020 and April 2021, respectively.

Weeks before the 2021 Tokyo Games, World Athletics had announced that both Masilingi and Mboma would not be allowed to compete under the female classification in events between 400 metres and one mile due to regulations on testosterone levels for athletes with XY disorders of sex development.

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