NAMIBIA’S Reginald Benade clinched a bronze medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games Men’s Discus F35/36 Category final in Beijing, China, late last week.
Benade, who left for Beijing early this month, told reporters before his departure that he is confident of bringing a medal home. The 34-year-old athlete competed in the shot-put F25/F36 on Sunday but ended sixth overall.Namibia’s Chef de Mission to the Olympic Games, Joan Smith, confirmed the bronze medal by Benade.Namibia failed to collect a single medal at the end of August during the Olympic Games held in the same city.Benade, who left for Beijing with his manager Penandino Kandjii and coach Michael Hamukwaya, returns home on September 19.Namibia was placed 58th with the bronze medal.Sapa reports that South Africa’s Duane Strydom took neighbourliness to new levels when he advised Benade to relax ahead of the fifth round of throws in the discus F35/36.Benade took the advice to heart and pushed Strydom out of the bronze medal position.His 37.57m was good for fourth.Meanwhile, China continued its domination of the Paralympics track and field events yesterday, notching its 31st gold in athletics ahead of the last night of swimming competition.The host nation stood on 69 golds yesterday afternoon, with 169 medals in total, and has now passed its haul of 63 titles in Athens.With 11 more medals up for grabs in the evening session, six world records were set in seven finals during the morning at the ‘Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium, with China winning the women’s discus and two other golds.Canadian wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc chasing a fifth gold in these Games qualified for the 1 500-metres final in her class as she bids to add to her 100m, 200m and 400m and 800m titles.Seventeen medals were on offer in the pool, where events have been dominated by South Africa’s Natalie du Toit, with five medals.Du Toit, who finished 16th in the Olympic 10-kilometre swimming marathon swim last month, pledged yesterday to aim for more Olympic and Paralympic glory.”Having the dream just to get to the Olympic Games and having that one accomplished, I think 2012 is definitely on the cards to do better and better,” she said.Nampa-Sapa and AFPThe 34-year-old athlete competed in the shot-put F25/F36 on Sunday but ended sixth overall.Namibia’s Chef de Mission to the Olympic Games, Joan Smith, confirmed the bronze medal by Benade.Namibia failed to collect a single medal at the end of August during the Olympic Games held in the same city.Benade, who left for Beijing with his manager Penandino Kandjii and coach Michael Hamukwaya, returns home on September 19.Namibia was placed 58th with the bronze medal.Sapa reports that South Africa’s Duane Strydom took neighbourliness to new levels when he advised Benade to relax ahead of the fifth round of throws in the discus F35/36.Benade took the advice to heart and pushed Strydom out of the bronze medal position.His 37.57m was good for fourth.Meanwhile, China continued its domination of the Paralympics track and field events yesterday, notching its 31st gold in athletics ahead of the last night of swimming competition.The host nation stood on 69 golds yesterday afternoon, with 169 medals in total, and has now passed its haul of 63 titles in Athens.With 11 more medals up for grabs in the evening session, six world records were set in seven finals during the morning at the ‘Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium, with China winning the women’s discus and two other golds.Canadian wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc chasing a fifth gold in these Games qualified for the 1 500-metres final in her class as she bids to add to her 100m, 200m and 400m and 800m titles.Seventeen medals were on offer in the pool, where events have been dominated by South Africa’s Natalie du Toit, with five medals.Du Toit, who finished 16th in the Olympic 10-kilometre swimming marathon swim last month, pledged yesterday to aim for more Olympic and Paralympic glory.”Having the dream just to get to the Olympic Games and having that one accomplished, I think 2012 is definitely on the cards to do better and better,” she said.Nampa-Sapa and AFP
