Disabled sports Namibia’s flag bearer, Martin Aloisius, on Tuesday scooped a gold medal in the athletic T12 division 100m finals of the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa (SCSA) Zone Six Under-20 Youth Games underway in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
The visually impaired athlete, who is the captain of the Namibian team at the event, did not disappoint in his discipline after he clocked 23.20 seconds and collected yet another gold medal for Namibia.
During the first two days Namibia collected 19 medals in athletics. Today is the final day of the athletics competition.
Gold medallists are: Lavinia Haitope (5000m), Aloisius (T12 100m, T12 200m), George Jambeinge (T15 100m, T12 200m), Josephina Haimbondi (T13 100m), Gregor Areseb (long jump), Dantago Gurirab (200m) and Cassie Muuja (400 hurdles).
Silver medallists are: Norman Campbell (shot put), Elizna Shivola (800m), Loide Kasheela (T12 800m), Haimbondi (T13 800m) and Hardus Maritz (400m hurdles).
Bronze medallists are: Markus Alerilwe (long jump), Eva Ndatipo (T13 200m) and Matha Shivola (800m).
Football
The national under-20 football team’s poor show against Malawi on Tuesday caused them dearly after losing 4-2 at the Ikageng Sports Stadium.
Namibia’s defeat to Malawi means that the young lads will engage Zambia in the third-place playoffs. Their match is scheduled for today at the same venue. Angola take on Malawi in the final tomorrow. Angola defeated Zambia 5-4 on penalties after a 0-all draw on Tuesday.
Boxing
The national under-20 boxing team did exceptionally well at the Zone Six Under-20 Youth Games after collecting four medals.
The boxing team is the overall winner of the Games after the finals were held on Tuesday. They were also declared the best team of the boxing tournament.
Out of the seven boxers who represented Namibia, four reached the finals of the various weight categories. Salamon Haikanana (57 kg) beat Thabo Matoro of Lesotho in the final to scoop gold while team-mate Sirongo Kasera (75 kg) defeated Dereck Kureya of Zimbabwe, also on points, to add another gold medal for Namibia.
Young sensation Lazarus Namalambo (54 kg) managed to clinch a silver medal after losing to Tefo Letshikgwane of Botswana on points. Titus Aiyambo (60 kg) put up a good show against Jonas Moetie of Botswana to scoop the third gold medal for Namibia.
Swimming
The long-standing national under-20 breaststroke swimming record of 4.10.59 seconds was broken at the Under-20 Youth Games this week.
Namibian swimmer Maximilian Siedentopf posted a new record of 3.51.13 seconds.
Swimming coach June Owen-Smith said Siedentopf has broken the record four times – twice at the All Africa Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa, two weeks ago, and twice in Potchefstroom.
The old record of 4.10.59 seconds stood for 13 years. Siedentopf also scooped a silver medal at the Games in the 50m breaststroke finals on Monday, in a time of 31.79 seconds. – Nampa
