Paralympics team excel in Durban
Twelve athletes and seven officials represented the Namibian Paraplegic Committee (NPC) in various events during the Nedbank SASAPD national championship in Durban at the end of last month.
After a gruelling bus trip for these challenged athletes the competition lay barren on the horizon, not knowing how strong their performance will be against South Africa, other African countries as well as Ireland.
The athletes knew this was also a qualifying event for the 2012 Paralympics and trusted their coach, Mike Hamukwaya in their preparation.
The Paralympics will be hosted in London (29 August ? 9 September 2012) where the sprinters Martin Aloysius, Ananias Shikongo and Johanna Benson as well as Reginald Benade (discus, shot-put), Frans Paulus (marathon) and Ruben Soroseb (power lifting) have already qualified to represent Namibia. Following the Durban event, they will now be joined by Elias Ndimulude who reached the B-qualifying standard time in the T46 400m event.
Namibia was standing proud in Durban with a brilliant haul of 12 gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
At the same time, seven South African records and an astonishing three African records were achieved by these superstars. The medal winners were Albertina Johannes, Johanna Benson, PJ Balhao, Ruben Soroseb, Reginald Benade, Simson Gariseb, Ananias Shikongo and Elias Ndimulude.
Johanna Benson once again did her country proud by winning both the 100 and 200m in new SA record times. She also won gold in the long jump, improving the African record to 3,79 m.
Reginald Benade, another top contender, destroyed the African shot-put record in a breathtaking performance of 12.33 metres. Benade previously won the 2008 Paralympics bronze medal in Beijing.
Ananias Shikongo, the blind sprinting wonder in the T11 category, meanwhile won the 100, 200 and 400m, setting new SA records in the first two and equalling the SA record in the 400.
Ruben Soreseb was unbeaten again and improved the SA record for power lifting with his 195 kg bench press.
Other athletes who excelled in their events were Albertina Johannes (gold for 100m & 200m), Martin Aloysius (4th place 100m & 200m), PJ Balhao (silver medal for 100m; discus), Theofelus David (bronze medal for javelin), Simson Gariseb (silver medal for 100m; gold medal for long jump), Johannes Nambala, Elisa Ndimulude (silver medal for 400m and two bronze medals for 100m and 200m) and Gideon Nasilowski (swimming). A challenge goes out to all disabled athletes to join a local sporting group! Namibia needs to know of you and if you do not know where to start, call Mike Hamukwaya (081 401 2618) or contact the Namibia Sports Commission (061 270 6111) to guide you to a contact person in your region.
After a gruelling bus trip for these challenged athletes the competition lay barren on the horizon, not knowing how strong their performance will be against South Africa, other African countries as well as Ireland.
The athletes knew this was also a qualifying event for the 2012 Paralympics and trusted their coach, Mike Hamukwaya in their preparation.
The Paralympics will be hosted in London (29 August ? 9 September 2012) where the sprinters Martin Aloysius, Ananias Shikongo and Johanna Benson as well as Reginald Benade (discus, shot-put), Frans Paulus (marathon) and Ruben Soroseb (power lifting) have already qualified to represent Namibia. Following the Durban event, they will now be joined by Elias Ndimulude who reached the B-qualifying standard time in the T46 400m event.
Namibia was standing proud in Durban with a brilliant haul of 12 gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
At the same time, seven South African records and an astonishing three African records were achieved by these superstars. The medal winners were Albertina Johannes, Johanna Benson, PJ Balhao, Ruben Soroseb, Reginald Benade, Simson Gariseb, Ananias Shikongo and Elias Ndimulude.
Johanna Benson once again did her country proud by winning both the 100 and 200m in new SA record times. She also won gold in the long jump, improving the African record to 3,79 m.
Reginald Benade, another top contender, destroyed the African shot-put record in a breathtaking performance of 12.33 metres. Benade previously won the 2008 Paralympics bronze medal in Beijing.
Ananias Shikongo, the blind sprinting wonder in the T11 category, meanwhile won the 100, 200 and 400m, setting new SA records in the first two and equalling the SA record in the 400.
Ruben Soreseb was unbeaten again and improved the SA record for power lifting with his 195 kg bench press.
Other athletes who excelled in their events were Albertina Johannes (gold for 100m & 200m), Martin Aloysius (4th place 100m & 200m), PJ Balhao (silver medal for 100m; discus), Theofelus David (bronze medal for javelin), Simson Gariseb (silver medal for 100m; gold medal for long jump), Johannes Nambala, Elisa Ndimulude (silver medal for 400m and two bronze medals for 100m and 200m) and Gideon Nasilowski (swimming). A challenge goes out to all disabled athletes to join a local sporting group! Namibia needs to know of you and if you do not know where to start, call Mike Hamukwaya (081 401 2618) or contact the Namibia Sports Commission (061 270 6111) to guide you to a contact person in your region.
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