WINDHOEK – The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) on Wednesday announced its athletes that will represent the country at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Archery, hockey and gymnastics are the three codes that will represent the country from 6 to 18 October at the Youth Games which will be hosted for the fourth time.
Abner Xoagub, NNOC president told the media during a briefing on Wednesday that as a country only three sport codes qualified for the games and they are hoping to have more athletes from different codes possibly added before the deadline on 31 August 2018.
“We did really well at the African Youth Games in Algeria and we hope we can improve on that performance at the Youth Olympics,” he said.
Xoagub added that most Namibian athletes did not meet the international qualifying standard but was happy that the hockey team finished second in Algeria, which gave them a through pass to the Youth Games after South Africa chose their rugby team to represent them.
“A country is only allowed to have one team competing in team events and South Africa had a hockey and rugby team that won gold at the African Youth Games and they then chose their rugby team because they believe it stands a better chance of winning them medals.
“With South Africa selecting the sevens rugby team, our hockey team was then automatically chosen by the International Hockey Union after finishing second,” Xoagub said.
The athletes who qualified for the games are; Quinn Reddig (archery), Thalia Loveira (gymnastics) and the hockey team being represented by Kiana Cormack, Sonet Crous, Jahntwa Kruger, Danja Meyer, Taramarie Myburgh, Kaela Schimming, Carien van Rooyen, Jeane van Rooyen and Celé Wessels.
The team will be coached by Shayne Cormack while Manda Myburgh is the team manager and Conrad Wessels the extra official.
Joan Smit, NNOC secretary general and the head of mission for these games said the athletes are in top shape.
“These games will be during the school term and we do not want the athletes’ education to be affected, that is why most of them are training at home so they can still study.”
Smit added that Reddig will travel out of the country to a high-performance centre in Lausanne, Switzerland two weeks ahead of the games to prepare. – Nampa
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