MBABANE – Eswatini has reportedly named Welcome Nhlabatsi as head coach for the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) 2026, but the delegation remains unconfirmed.
Eswatini Swimming Association (ESA) Chief Executive Officer Nozipho Mahlalela said the association would make the team list public once it had been finalised.
Mahlalela was responding to enquiries from this publication about the swimmers expected to represent the kingdom at the global competition.
The World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) 2026 will take place in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, from December 1 to 6. The six-day competition is expected to attract more than 1 000 world-class athletes from over 200 countries for a series of short-course races.
Meanwhile, Eswatini’s swimmers continue to make strides on the international stage, with Siwakhile Dlamini and Luca Fraser producing notable performances in their respective competitions.
Dlamini made history at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, after setting a national record in the women’s 50m freestyle in the 18–24 age-group category.
She clocked an impressive 29.66 seconds, earning recognition for her performance and adding to Eswatini’s swimming achievements on the international stage.
Elsewhere, swimming sensation Fraser has continued to build momentum ahead of his assignment at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The youngster rewrote two national age-group records in the 15–17 category at the South African Short Course Swimming Championships (25 metres), held in Pietermaritzburg from September 24 to 27.
Fraser delivered an outstanding performance in the 100m breaststroke, stopping the clock at 1:07.24 to lower his previous record of 1:07.88, which he set at the Eswatini National Youth Games in August 2026.
He was equally impressive in the 200m breaststroke, clocking 2:25.15 to demolish his previous mark of 2:30.18, set at the ESA National Championships in February.
His performances saw him shave 0.64 seconds off his 100m record and an impressive 5.03 seconds off his 200m mark.
Fraser is among three athletes selected by the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) to represent the kingdom at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for October 31 to November 13.
The delegation comprises Fraser in swimming, Knowledge Mkhwanazi in athletics and Simisile Thwala in taekwondo. Fraser will compete in the 50m breaststroke; Mkhwanazi in the 100m track event; while Thwala will contest the Under-55kg taekwondo division.
The Dakar Games are expected to bring together approximately 2 700 young athletes from more than 200 National Olympic Committees, competing across 25 sports.
