Govt funds N$470 000 for Deaflympics dream
Judo, Athletics
The sports ministry and Namibia Sport Commission (NSC) yesterday footed the N$470 000 bill for the Namibian Deaf Sports Federation’s debut at the Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics, taking place from 15 to 26 November in Japan.
According to the event’s official outline, the showpiece is held under the auspices of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) and will attract roughly 3 000 athletes from over 70 countries.
Namibia has fielded a ten-player contingent participating in judo and athletics, composed of Shangelao Kanana, Saara Haihambo, Paulus Ekandjo, Nghikevali Elifas, Abraham Ndinoiti, Damian Munzere, Tomas Nambala, Pamwenase Hamwele, Lesley Kamete and Maria Filemon.
They will be accompanied by federation president Abner Sheya, who will also serve as an athletics team manager alongside judo manager Peter Uushona, with coaches Lina Kanana and Erasmus Shindodi.
Other individuals in the entourage include sign language interpreter Henock Niilenge, journalist Hesron Kapanga and physician Donatha Ngunovandu.
‘We hope to bring medals’
Ahead of their departure for Japan yesterday in Windhoek, federation president Sheya expressed pride in their international debut, calling it a dream come true after advocating for it for a long time.
“We have never participated in this type of event before. So I want to say thank you for sending us to this very big event and affording us the same opportunity as those without hearing loss. Hopefully, we go out there and bring home medals to show who we are as Namibians,” he said.
NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said the event is a testament to inclusivity in the country’s sports.
“I know it was not easy to make this happen. The president [Sheya] and I exchanged countless emails, together with the government, which tried its best to help realise this dream,” he said.
– [email protected]
According to the event’s official outline, the showpiece is held under the auspices of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) and will attract roughly 3 000 athletes from over 70 countries.
Namibia has fielded a ten-player contingent participating in judo and athletics, composed of Shangelao Kanana, Saara Haihambo, Paulus Ekandjo, Nghikevali Elifas, Abraham Ndinoiti, Damian Munzere, Tomas Nambala, Pamwenase Hamwele, Lesley Kamete and Maria Filemon.
They will be accompanied by federation president Abner Sheya, who will also serve as an athletics team manager alongside judo manager Peter Uushona, with coaches Lina Kanana and Erasmus Shindodi.
Other individuals in the entourage include sign language interpreter Henock Niilenge, journalist Hesron Kapanga and physician Donatha Ngunovandu.
‘We hope to bring medals’
Ahead of their departure for Japan yesterday in Windhoek, federation president Sheya expressed pride in their international debut, calling it a dream come true after advocating for it for a long time.
“We have never participated in this type of event before. So I want to say thank you for sending us to this very big event and affording us the same opportunity as those without hearing loss. Hopefully, we go out there and bring home medals to show who we are as Namibians,” he said.
NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya said the event is a testament to inclusivity in the country’s sports.
“I know it was not easy to make this happen. The president [Sheya] and I exchanged countless emails, together with the government, which tried its best to help realise this dream,” he said.
– [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article