Para-Athlete Nambala internationally grounded
Former Paralympics world champion Johannes Nambala is eager to make the most out of 2018 despite having fewer competitions on his timetable.
30 January 2018 | Sports
Paralympics T13 sprinting sensation Johannes Nambala will not be taking part in any major international competitions this year, the athlete revealed yesterday.
Nambala, who started training early this month, said the only competitions he is looking forward to are various Grand Prix events.
Unlike his partner and friend Ananias Shikongo, who is preparing for the Commonwealth Games slated for April, Nambala will miss out on the prestigious event.
The reason Nambala will not be part of the Commonwealth Games team is because his category is not registered in the competition.
The athlete remains confident of adding several medals to his collection this year, though.
“I started training very early this year just to maintain my shape for any upcoming events.
“It is unfortunate that I will not be part of the Commonwealth teams, but I still will just work hard in training for any Grand Prix competitions.
“I however hope that my great friend Ananias Shikongo does well at the Commonwealth Games,” Nambala said.
Nambala said the only challenge he is facing now is access to the Independence Stadium for training. The athlete trains at the Katutura Youth Complex during the week.
Nambala became the first Namibian to win a gold medal at an IPC Athletics World Championship when he won the 400m sprint in Lyon in 2013.
He has won two silver medals at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016.
Nambala was born in 1991 in the village of Iikokola, in the Uukwaluudhi district of northern Namibia.
He was born with visual impairment.
“Hard work is always the key to a successful athletics career and I am just doing that for my people and country,” he said.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
Nambala, who started training early this month, said the only competitions he is looking forward to are various Grand Prix events.
Unlike his partner and friend Ananias Shikongo, who is preparing for the Commonwealth Games slated for April, Nambala will miss out on the prestigious event.
The reason Nambala will not be part of the Commonwealth Games team is because his category is not registered in the competition.
The athlete remains confident of adding several medals to his collection this year, though.
“I started training very early this year just to maintain my shape for any upcoming events.
“It is unfortunate that I will not be part of the Commonwealth teams, but I still will just work hard in training for any Grand Prix competitions.
“I however hope that my great friend Ananias Shikongo does well at the Commonwealth Games,” Nambala said.
Nambala said the only challenge he is facing now is access to the Independence Stadium for training. The athlete trains at the Katutura Youth Complex during the week.
Nambala became the first Namibian to win a gold medal at an IPC Athletics World Championship when he won the 400m sprint in Lyon in 2013.
He has won two silver medals at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016.
Nambala was born in 1991 in the village of Iikokola, in the Uukwaluudhi district of northern Namibia.
He was born with visual impairment.
“Hard work is always the key to a successful athletics career and I am just doing that for my people and country,” he said.
JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA
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