Para-athletes included at AN event
Ahletics
Namibia's athletes with disability will on Saturday make their debut at the Coca-Cola Regional Club Challenge's fourth leg event organised by Athletics Namibia (AN).
The event will be held at the Independence Stadium and Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) athletes will be competing at this event for the first time.
Speaking to Nampa, NPC secretary-general Michael Hamukwaya said athletes who have qualified for the 2019 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Athletics Championships will partake in this event.
“We have never had athletes compete in any event that is organised by Athletics Namibia, as we cater for a different group of athletes. Having our athletes compete at this event and for that matter approved by the IPC really means a lot to us,” he said.
Hamukwaya noted that these para-athletes will work on improving their times ahead of the world champs that will be held in Dubai in November.
“As a federation we do not have funds to send our athletes to competitions. Now we finally have an IPC-approved event in our country which will now help these athletes who are already classified to keep themselves active instead of just waiting for major competitions,” he stated.
Hamukwaya also said in the future, only athletes who are not classified will be allowed to travel to competitions in South Africa.
The coach said the AN event comes at the right time as it will give the athletes an idea of where their fitness level is at the moment.
“On Saturday the track athletes will all compete at the same time, because we do not have a lot of athletes in the different categories, as the aim is to improve their times,” Hamukwaya added.
Athletes who have thus far qualified for the 2019 IPC World Para Athletics Championships include Johannes Nambala, Lahja Ishitile, Ananias Shikongo, Reginald Benade, Johanna Benson, Petrus Karuli, Sylvia Shivolo, Immanuel Bernardo, Bradley Murere, Eino Mushila, Fillemon Amos, Christoph Marungu and Denzel Namene.
– Nampa
The event will be held at the Independence Stadium and Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) athletes will be competing at this event for the first time.
Speaking to Nampa, NPC secretary-general Michael Hamukwaya said athletes who have qualified for the 2019 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Athletics Championships will partake in this event.
“We have never had athletes compete in any event that is organised by Athletics Namibia, as we cater for a different group of athletes. Having our athletes compete at this event and for that matter approved by the IPC really means a lot to us,” he said.
Hamukwaya noted that these para-athletes will work on improving their times ahead of the world champs that will be held in Dubai in November.
“As a federation we do not have funds to send our athletes to competitions. Now we finally have an IPC-approved event in our country which will now help these athletes who are already classified to keep themselves active instead of just waiting for major competitions,” he stated.
Hamukwaya also said in the future, only athletes who are not classified will be allowed to travel to competitions in South Africa.
The coach said the AN event comes at the right time as it will give the athletes an idea of where their fitness level is at the moment.
“On Saturday the track athletes will all compete at the same time, because we do not have a lot of athletes in the different categories, as the aim is to improve their times,” Hamukwaya added.
Athletes who have thus far qualified for the 2019 IPC World Para Athletics Championships include Johannes Nambala, Lahja Ishitile, Ananias Shikongo, Reginald Benade, Johanna Benson, Petrus Karuli, Sylvia Shivolo, Immanuel Bernardo, Bradley Murere, Eino Mushila, Fillemon Amos, Christoph Marungu and Denzel Namene.
– Nampa
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