Big shoes to fill

Deputy sports minister Agnes Tjongarero says the nation has optimism and belief that its para-athletes will always return with medals from international competitions.Tjongarero said this at the sending off ceremony for 39 mixed para-athletes who will be competing at the 2018 South Africa Nedbank National Championships for Physically Disabled from 28 March to 3 April in Bloemfontein. The championships will serve as an opportunity to get the athletes classified in different categories, as only four in the group are actively classified athletes.The deputy minister reminded the group that they are entering a cauldron where the likes of Ananias Shikongo, Johannes Nambala and Johanna Benson have been in the past.“You have big shoes to fill. These athletes build this house so you have to work hard to break the records they have set.”She further urged Johanna Benson, who will also be taking part in the competition, to get back to winning ways and show the nation what she is made of.“We are used to receiving medals from you, so do not disappoint us,” Tjongarero said.The deputy director of marginalised people and women in sport, Jo-Ann Manuel, said there is only one International Paralympics Committee (IPC) sanctioned tournament, so it is imperative that the para-athletes know which class they fall in.Manuel added that Coca-Cola has done a lot in terms of supporting the athletes to travel.“Many companies should plough back into sport, that's why the push is there for the social responsibility policy to be passed by parliament, mandating companies operating in Namibia to give generously to sport,” she said.The para-athletes president Johannes Litwayi said the athletes were selected from different regions, in order to secure wide representation.“There are many new faces which we want to train for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. We want a big number to represent the country when the time comes,” he said.Litwayi also thanked para-athletes coach Michael Hamukwaya, who will also being travelling to United States for a month-long internship programme.“Uplift the para-athletes and keep working hard as you have done for the past years,” the president said.Hamukwaya will be mentored on different aspects of disability sport and will use the knowledge gained to better local athletes.The athletes left on Saturday and will return on 4 April. Seven sporting codes, namely goal ball, seven-a-aside football, judo, para-cycling, boccia, powerlifting and athletics will form part of the event.LIMBA MUPETAMI

Big shoes to fill

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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Big shoes to fill

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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