Hunting Gold Coast glory
Excitement is building all over the world as the clock counts down to the 2018 Commonwealth Games, slated
Namibia's 27 athletes will join those from a host of other countries that will be heading to Gold Coast, Australia for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and who will be eager to contend for medals.
This spectacular sporting event provides athletes with opportunities and the benefit of gaining sporting experience, with Namibian athletes joining the bandwagon, even though funds have been hard to source.
The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) received N$4 million from the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) to make the dream of competing a reality for our local athletes, who will be eager to show their mettle in in athletics, bowling, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, para-sport and the triathlon.
NNOC secretary-general Joan Smit said the games is among the pinnacles in sporting achievement and sets the tone for the Olympic Games that will take place in two years' time.
“The games are preparatory for athletes who hope and dream to become Olympians. It's a benchmark to determine what they need to work on before reaching the Olympics.”
Smit said the qualification criteria were very high as they wanted to send medal contenders to the Commonwealth Games.
“There were international events which the local athletes took part in to qualify. Most worked really hard and qualified. The athletes are in great shape, well-prepared and ready,” she said.
Namibia has won a healthy 18 medals in total at past Commonwealth Games, including three golds, four silvers and 11 bronze medals. Legendary sprinter Frank Fredericks alone has won two golds, one silver and a bronze
Recently boxing sensation Junias Jonas clinched a silver medal in Glasgow four years ago, while Lahja Ishitile took bronze at the same games.
The spotlight is now once again on our local athletes to bring home medals.
Medal hopefuls
Namibian triathlon athlete Jean-Paul Burger recently won a gold medal in the South African trail championships and a bronze medal at the Africa Cup in Zimbabwe.
The athlete, who resides in South Africa, shared that he has been taking part in many races in order to gain points.
He emphasised that he is excited about the Commonwealth Games, but is also building momentum towards the 2020 Olympic Games.
“This is definitely one of the biggest motivations that drives me to train hard and continue on days that I don't feel like training. The qualification for the Olympics starts on 11 May 2018. There are very complicated qualifying criterion, but basically it boils down to having more races internationally, more specifically in Europe.
“I need to gain as much points as possible and must ensure that I'm in the top 70 on the world points list by the beginning of the 2020 calendar year,” Burger said.
Elite cyclist Dan Craven recently won the Nedbank Cycling Challenge and is in top form.
Vera Adrian won the same race in the women's category and also took silver at the 40th Cape Town Cycle Tour recently.
Junias, who will once again be boxing at the Commonwealth Games, said he would be doing his talking in the ring and that “everyone should wait and see”.
Ananias Shikongo who recently returned from the World Para-Athletics Grand Prix Competition in Dubai, where he bagged three medals, said preparations are running smoothly and he plans to do his best.
What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth Games take place every four years. The previous edition was held in 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.
The event was first held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930, when 11 countries sent a total of 400 athletes to take part.
Fast-forward to Glasgow 2014 and more than 4 500 athletes from 71 nations competed in 17 sports over 11 days
The Commonwealth is a collection of countries that were previously territories that formed part of the British Empire.
What can be expected?
In short, a lot of excitement which will take place across 18 sports and seven para-sports.
More than 6 600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories will all gather at the Gold Coast for the games.
The sports are athletics, weightlifting, volleyball, squash, wrestling, shooting, hockey, badminton, basketball, bowls, boxing, cycling, diving, gymnastics, table tennis, netball, rugby sevens, swimming and triathlon.
The Namibian delegation is as follows:
Athletics: Madeleine Kotze (manager), Robert Kaxuxuena (coach), Helalia Johannes, Ndeshimona Ekandjo, Lavinia Haitope, Paulus Iiyambo, Reonard Namupala, Uveni Kugongelwa, Roger Haitengi and Hardus Maritz.
Bowling: Sheena du Toit, Johanna van den Berg, Anuleen Viljoen, Lesley Vermeulen, Graham Snyman, Carel Olivier, Douw Calitx and Willem Esterhuizen.
Boxing: Israel Hamtumbangela, Kashera Shiyemo (coach/manager), Mathias Hamunyela, Triyagain Ndevelo and Jonas Junias.
Cycling: Irene Steyn, Hans du Toit (coach/manager) Tjipekapora Murangi (Mechanic), Michelle Vorster, Vera Adrian, Dan Craven, Martin Freyer, Drikus Coetzee and Tristan De Lange.
Gymnastics: Lindsay Adams (coach/manager) and Robert Honiball.
Para-athletes: Barbara Fernandez (coach), Ananias Shikongo and Even Tjiviju (guide).
Triathlon: Erna Burger (coach/manager) and Jean-Paul Burger.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
This spectacular sporting event provides athletes with opportunities and the benefit of gaining sporting experience, with Namibian athletes joining the bandwagon, even though funds have been hard to source.
The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) received N$4 million from the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) to make the dream of competing a reality for our local athletes, who will be eager to show their mettle in in athletics, bowling, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, para-sport and the triathlon.
NNOC secretary-general Joan Smit said the games is among the pinnacles in sporting achievement and sets the tone for the Olympic Games that will take place in two years' time.
“The games are preparatory for athletes who hope and dream to become Olympians. It's a benchmark to determine what they need to work on before reaching the Olympics.”
Smit said the qualification criteria were very high as they wanted to send medal contenders to the Commonwealth Games.
“There were international events which the local athletes took part in to qualify. Most worked really hard and qualified. The athletes are in great shape, well-prepared and ready,” she said.
Namibia has won a healthy 18 medals in total at past Commonwealth Games, including three golds, four silvers and 11 bronze medals. Legendary sprinter Frank Fredericks alone has won two golds, one silver and a bronze
Recently boxing sensation Junias Jonas clinched a silver medal in Glasgow four years ago, while Lahja Ishitile took bronze at the same games.
The spotlight is now once again on our local athletes to bring home medals.
Medal hopefuls
Namibian triathlon athlete Jean-Paul Burger recently won a gold medal in the South African trail championships and a bronze medal at the Africa Cup in Zimbabwe.
The athlete, who resides in South Africa, shared that he has been taking part in many races in order to gain points.
He emphasised that he is excited about the Commonwealth Games, but is also building momentum towards the 2020 Olympic Games.
“This is definitely one of the biggest motivations that drives me to train hard and continue on days that I don't feel like training. The qualification for the Olympics starts on 11 May 2018. There are very complicated qualifying criterion, but basically it boils down to having more races internationally, more specifically in Europe.
“I need to gain as much points as possible and must ensure that I'm in the top 70 on the world points list by the beginning of the 2020 calendar year,” Burger said.
Elite cyclist Dan Craven recently won the Nedbank Cycling Challenge and is in top form.
Vera Adrian won the same race in the women's category and also took silver at the 40th Cape Town Cycle Tour recently.
Junias, who will once again be boxing at the Commonwealth Games, said he would be doing his talking in the ring and that “everyone should wait and see”.
Ananias Shikongo who recently returned from the World Para-Athletics Grand Prix Competition in Dubai, where he bagged three medals, said preparations are running smoothly and he plans to do his best.
What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth Games take place every four years. The previous edition was held in 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.
The event was first held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930, when 11 countries sent a total of 400 athletes to take part.
Fast-forward to Glasgow 2014 and more than 4 500 athletes from 71 nations competed in 17 sports over 11 days
The Commonwealth is a collection of countries that were previously territories that formed part of the British Empire.
What can be expected?
In short, a lot of excitement which will take place across 18 sports and seven para-sports.
More than 6 600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories will all gather at the Gold Coast for the games.
The sports are athletics, weightlifting, volleyball, squash, wrestling, shooting, hockey, badminton, basketball, bowls, boxing, cycling, diving, gymnastics, table tennis, netball, rugby sevens, swimming and triathlon.
The Namibian delegation is as follows:
Athletics: Madeleine Kotze (manager), Robert Kaxuxuena (coach), Helalia Johannes, Ndeshimona Ekandjo, Lavinia Haitope, Paulus Iiyambo, Reonard Namupala, Uveni Kugongelwa, Roger Haitengi and Hardus Maritz.
Bowling: Sheena du Toit, Johanna van den Berg, Anuleen Viljoen, Lesley Vermeulen, Graham Snyman, Carel Olivier, Douw Calitx and Willem Esterhuizen.
Boxing: Israel Hamtumbangela, Kashera Shiyemo (coach/manager), Mathias Hamunyela, Triyagain Ndevelo and Jonas Junias.
Cycling: Irene Steyn, Hans du Toit (coach/manager) Tjipekapora Murangi (Mechanic), Michelle Vorster, Vera Adrian, Dan Craven, Martin Freyer, Drikus Coetzee and Tristan De Lange.
Gymnastics: Lindsay Adams (coach/manager) and Robert Honiball.
Para-athletes: Barbara Fernandez (coach), Ananias Shikongo and Even Tjiviju (guide).
Triathlon: Erna Burger (coach/manager) and Jean-Paul Burger.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article