WINDHOEK – The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) is in the process of finalising its list of athletes who will represent the country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
The international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth will be held from 4 to 15 April in Queensland, Australia.
Speaking to Nampa on Sunday, NNOC secretary general Joan Smit said they had selected a team of athletes who they are confident will represent Namibia well at the Games.
The athletes will compete in boxing, marathon running, cycling, bowling, triathlon, athletics and para-athletics.
The boxers are currently at a high performance centre preparing for the competition, while the marathon runners are in camp in South Africa.
“We do not have any swimmers representing Namibia. As you know swimming is one of those tough events and none of our athletes qualified for the competition.
“But I am happy that we still have other codes and there will probably be 27 athletes at the Games,” Smit said.
She added that the biggest challenge faced by athletes is the unavailability of infrastructure to prepare at home.
The athletes who have started preparing for the Commonwealth Games are Jonas Junius Jonas; Johannes Hamunyela and Try-Again Ndevelo (boxing); Uveni-Nawa Kuugongelwa; Leonard Nampala and Paulus Iyambo (male marathon runners); Helalia Johannes; Lavinia Haitope and Lena Ekandjo (female marathon runners).
The female cycling team will consist of Vera Adrian and Michelle Voster. Smit said the male team will be announced once the Namibian Cycling Federation has informed the athletes.
For bowling there are two teams of male and female athletes. Smit said the bowlers qualified for the Games during the World Cup that they competed in in New Zealand last year.
Jean Paul Burger will be the only triathlete representing Namibia at the competition.
Track and field athletes will possibly consist of triple jumper Roger Haitengi, Ernst Narib and Gerhardus Maritz. Smit said the two track athletes still have the chance to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.
Ananias Shikongo will represent Namibia in the Paralympic events.
Smit said he will be sent to Dubai for final preparations in March. – Nampa
