Wrestlers win at Commonwealth

WRESTLERS Sem Shilimela and Lukas Thomas excelled for Namibia when they both won medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, on Wednesday.

Shilimela won the silver medal in the 54 kg category after reaching the final where he lost 3-0 on points to Jitendra Hariprasad of India. Earlier, Shilimela beat Brandon Third of New Zealand 3-1 in the quarterfinals and Gareth Jones of Wales 3-1 in the semi-finals.Thomas won a bronze medal in the 50 kg category after reaching the semi-finals where he lost 5-0 on points to Steven Takahashi of Canada.Earlier Thomas beat Nico Bloemsaat of New Zealand 3-1 on points in the quarterfinals.In the athletics events, sprinters Merlyn Diamond and Dantago Gurirab managed to qualify for the next round of their respective events.Diamond qualified for the girls’ 100m semi-finals after coming third in her first round heat in a time of 12,32 seconds.This was the ninth fastest overall time of the heats, with Shaunna Thompson of England setting the fastest heat time in a new Games record of 11,69 seconds.Gurirab also qualified for the boys 100m semi-finals when he came third in his heat in a time of 10,86 seconds.It was the seventh fastest overall time, while Jason Rogers of St Kitts and Nevis set the fastest time in a new Games record of 10,60 seconds.Namibia’s two female hurdlers Steffi van Wyk and Nandi Jordaan both had disappointing performances in the girls’ 100m hurdles.Van Wyk was off form and came last in her heat in a time of 15,65 seconds.Van Wyk was lying third in her heat but crashed out of contention when she fell over the final hurdle.She managed to get up and complete the race, finishing last in 19,36 seconds.Elfie Potgieter was also below her best in the girls’ javelin final, and finished ninth and last with a best effort of 34,53m, which was way below her personal best of 45,52m.In swimming, Daniela Lindemeier failed to qualify for the final of the girls’ 50m breaststroke when she finished third in her heat in a time of 35,45 seconds.This was the tenth fastest time overall, and with only the eight fastest swimmers progressing to the final, Lindemeier missed out by two places.Christine Minders also failed to reach the final of the women’s 200m freestyle event after finishing seventh in her heat in a new personal best time of 2:16:33.www.namibiasport.com.naEarlier, Shilimela beat Brandon Third of New Zealand 3-1 in the quarterfinals and Gareth Jones of Wales 3-1 in the semi-finals.Thomas won a bronze medal in the 50 kg category after reaching the semi-finals where he lost 5-0 on points to Steven Takahashi of Canada.Earlier Thomas beat Nico Bloemsaat of New Zealand 3-1 on points in the quarterfinals.In the athletics events, sprinters Merlyn Diamond and Dantago Gurirab managed to qualify for the next round of their respective events.Diamond qualified for the girls’ 100m semi-finals after coming third in her first round heat in a time of 12,32 seconds.This was the ninth fastest overall time of the heats, with Shaunna Thompson of England setting the fastest heat time in a new Games record of 11,69 seconds.Gurirab also qualified for the boys 100m semi-finals when he came third in his heat in a time of 10,86 seconds.It was the seventh fastest overall time, while Jason Rogers of St Kitts and Nevis set the fastest time in a new Games record of 10,60 seconds.Namibia’s two female hurdlers Steffi van Wyk and Nandi Jordaan both had disappointing performances in the girls’ 100m hurdles.Van Wyk was off form and came last in her heat in a time of 15,65 seconds.Van Wyk was lying third in her heat but crashed out of contention when she fell over the final hurdle.She managed to get up and complete the race, finishing last in 19,36 seconds.Elfie Potgieter was also below her best in the girls’ javelin final, and finished ninth and last with a best effort of 34,53m, which was way below her personal best of 45,52m.In swimming, Daniela Lindemeier failed to qualify for the final of the girls’ 50m breaststroke when she finished third in her heat in a time of 35,45 seconds.This was the tenth fastest time overall, and with only the eight fastest swimmers progressing to the final, Lindemeier missed out by two places.Christine Minders also failed to reach the final of the women’s 200m freestyle event after finishing seventh in her heat in a new personal best time of 2:16:33.www.namibiasport.com.na