Nambala wins second silver
Injury kills Ndimulunde''s medal hopes
Namibia received a second silver medal from Johannes Nambala yesterday when he finished second in the T13 400m final.
Nambala, who was the first to scoop a medal for Namibia in the 100m final on Friday last week, started off well in the 400m final, catching up with the current world record holder from Morocco.
His time was not fast enough to go for gold though and he settled for silver, clocking a personal best at 47: 21.
Ananias Shikongo was due to run the T11 200m final and Lahja Ishitile in the T11 400m heats late yesterday.
Elias Ndimulunde was declared unfit to compete in the T47 400m event. Ndimulunde pulled a hamstring in the heats of the 100m race on Saturday and ended last.
The team’s physiotherapist, Benny Obermuller, told Nampa earlier the athlete had made good progress, but he would monitor him closely ahead of today’s event.
On Wednesday, though, Ndimulunde was declared unfit to compete by Dr Leandro Siqueira of the Paralympic Games.
Namibia Paralympics Committee (NPC) secretary-general Michael Hamukwaya says the Namibian athletes' hard work throughout the year is paying off.
Speaking to Nampa in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, Hamukwaya said he was happy with the team’s performance so far.
Team Namibia has so far won three medals: Johannes Nambala won silver in the men’s T13, 100m and 400m, and Ananias Shikongo won bronze in the men’s T11 100m.
“As a coach of these athletes, I really feel proud to see them doing so well and setting African records. We are really proud of the extra effort athletes are putting in while they compete with the best in the world,” Hamukwaya said.
He added that Namibia and South Africa were the only southern African countries that had won medals so far.
“In the past, we had one athlete winning medals at the games but at the moment, we have two and we are hoping they win even more.
“What is making me happy is that most of our athletes are going through to the final rounds of their events, which is really a good thing and shows progress when it comes to athletes’ development.”
The 2016 Paralympic Games end on Sunday.
- additional reporting NAMPA
KAINO NGHITONGO
Nambala, who was the first to scoop a medal for Namibia in the 100m final on Friday last week, started off well in the 400m final, catching up with the current world record holder from Morocco.
His time was not fast enough to go for gold though and he settled for silver, clocking a personal best at 47: 21.
Ananias Shikongo was due to run the T11 200m final and Lahja Ishitile in the T11 400m heats late yesterday.
Elias Ndimulunde was declared unfit to compete in the T47 400m event. Ndimulunde pulled a hamstring in the heats of the 100m race on Saturday and ended last.
The team’s physiotherapist, Benny Obermuller, told Nampa earlier the athlete had made good progress, but he would monitor him closely ahead of today’s event.
On Wednesday, though, Ndimulunde was declared unfit to compete by Dr Leandro Siqueira of the Paralympic Games.
Namibia Paralympics Committee (NPC) secretary-general Michael Hamukwaya says the Namibian athletes' hard work throughout the year is paying off.
Speaking to Nampa in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, Hamukwaya said he was happy with the team’s performance so far.
Team Namibia has so far won three medals: Johannes Nambala won silver in the men’s T13, 100m and 400m, and Ananias Shikongo won bronze in the men’s T11 100m.
“As a coach of these athletes, I really feel proud to see them doing so well and setting African records. We are really proud of the extra effort athletes are putting in while they compete with the best in the world,” Hamukwaya said.
He added that Namibia and South Africa were the only southern African countries that had won medals so far.
“In the past, we had one athlete winning medals at the games but at the moment, we have two and we are hoping they win even more.
“What is making me happy is that most of our athletes are going through to the final rounds of their events, which is really a good thing and shows progress when it comes to athletes’ development.”
The 2016 Paralympic Games end on Sunday.
- additional reporting NAMPA
KAINO NGHITONGO
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