Kinda makes world champs breakthrough
Athletics
The runner put himself in the spotlight as the successor to the mantle previously worn by Ananias Shikongo and Johannes Nambala.
Visually impaired sprinter Chris Kinda on Sunday clinched gold for Namibia at the 2024 Para Athletics World Championships in Kobe, Japan.
Kinda, with his guide Riwaldo Goagoseb, thrashed his competitors in the 400 metres T11 final, finishing in 52.53 seconds to become his country’s first world champion at the event.
Kinda and Goagoseb earlier ran a marvellous 400m heat in 51.79s to book a spot in the final.
In the final, the Namibians trailed in third place down the straight to the finish line, but with the end in sight Kinda accelerated to leave Eduardo Manuel Uceda Novas from Spain and the famous Felipe De Souza Gomes from Brazil in their dust.
Lahja Ishitile and guide Sem Shimanda won bronze in a time of 58.37s in the 400m T11 final.
Ishitile and Shimanda also set an African record in the 100m T11 heats. They finished second in a time of 12.39s, only 0.02 seconds behind the winner. Unfortunately they did not qualify for the final.
Lahja Ipinge (17 years) and guide Paulus Filippus were unfortunately disqualified in her 400m T12 heat, while they were in the winning position. Rule 19.4 dictates that guide-runners are not allowed to cross the finish line before the athlete.
Johannes Nambala finished 6th in his 100m T13 final. He set a season's best in 11.29s. Skander Athmani from Algeria was on fire in 10.44s, followed by Shuta Kawakami in 10.70s and and Salum Kahafali with 10.79s.
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Kinda, with his guide Riwaldo Goagoseb, thrashed his competitors in the 400 metres T11 final, finishing in 52.53 seconds to become his country’s first world champion at the event.
Kinda and Goagoseb earlier ran a marvellous 400m heat in 51.79s to book a spot in the final.
In the final, the Namibians trailed in third place down the straight to the finish line, but with the end in sight Kinda accelerated to leave Eduardo Manuel Uceda Novas from Spain and the famous Felipe De Souza Gomes from Brazil in their dust.
Lahja Ishitile and guide Sem Shimanda won bronze in a time of 58.37s in the 400m T11 final.
Ishitile and Shimanda also set an African record in the 100m T11 heats. They finished second in a time of 12.39s, only 0.02 seconds behind the winner. Unfortunately they did not qualify for the final.
Lahja Ipinge (17 years) and guide Paulus Filippus were unfortunately disqualified in her 400m T12 heat, while they were in the winning position. Rule 19.4 dictates that guide-runners are not allowed to cross the finish line before the athlete.
Johannes Nambala finished 6th in his 100m T13 final. He set a season's best in 11.29s. Skander Athmani from Algeria was on fire in 10.44s, followed by Shuta Kawakami in 10.70s and and Salum Kahafali with 10.79s.
– [email protected]
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