Para-athletes impress at SA champs

Namibia’s elite Paralympic athletes impressed at the South African Open Championship, which took place in Bloemfontein last weekend.
The Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) took 12 athletes to the event.
All 12 of the athletes have qualified for the Paralympic Games by recording ‘A’ and ‘B’ qualifying times.
Some of Namibia’s top able bodied athletes also graced the event with Ernst Narib (400m specialist), Hardie Maritz (400m hurdles), Roger Haitengi (triple jump specialist), and upcoming athlete FC Pieters all attending the event.
This competition was sanctioned by the IAAF and IPC as an Olympic Games and Paralympic Games qualifier.
It, thus provided athletes with an opportunity to improve their times ahead of the global events, which will be held in Brazil.
The Paralympic elite athletics team collected seven gold medals, five silver and four bronze medals to give an overall 16 medals.
According to NPC Secretary-General, Michael Hamukwaya, the event was good as it allowed the athletes to get battle hardened.
“This was good preparatory competition for our athletes and the NPC is hoping to give these athletes an opportunity to compete in at least two or three more international competition in preparation for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games in September,” he said.
Hamukwaya added that even though the support they receive is still minimal, those that do help them are highly valued.
“We acknowledge the continuous sponsorship from the directorate of sport through the Ministry of Sport for funding this whole trip through transport, accommodation and meals of our athletes.
And as always we thank our partners Coca-Cola Namibia for being the official soft drink and Powerade partners towards road to Rio.”
Members of the public can also show their support for the athletes by sending sms to 28282 with the words #GOLD FOR RIO.

Medal count
Johanna Benson (T37- silver medal in 400m, gold in 100m, silver in long jump) Ishitile Lahja (T11- bronze medal in 400m and gold in 200m)
Ananias Shikongo (T11- gold in 100m, gold in 200m, gold in 400m)
Elias Ndimulunde (T46- gold in 400m)
Johannes Nambala (T13- gold in 400m, d silver in 100m)
Aloysius Martin (T12- bronze in 400m, silver in long jump)
Ringo Garoeb (T46- bronze in 400m)
Moses Tobias (T11- silver in 200m, bronze in 100m)
Eino Mushila (T13 silver in 400m)

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