Situ, Du Preez make World Para Athletics Championships team
The championships are crucial in the athletes' pursuit of securing slots for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Any athlete finishing in the top 4 or better will qualify for one slot.
South Africa's Pieter "Supa Piet" du Preez won his 5th consecutive Oita International Wheelchair Marathon. Picture: @supapiet/Twitter
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has named a strong squad for the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, France, from 8 to 17 July.
The championships are crucial in the athletes' pursuit of securing slots for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Any athlete finishing in the top 4 or better will qualify for one slot.
The squad of 26 athletes has a great mixture of experienced athletes which includes veteran Ntombizanele "Zanele" Situ has represented South Africa at six Paralympic Games, and she’s a four-time medallist – two golds in the javelin in 2000 and 2004, silver in the discus in 2000 and bronze in the javelin in 2016.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) expressed faith in the team.
“Our team has a proven track record of exceptional performances at national, regional, and international para events. We are confident that the selected team is strong and will make us proud at the World Para Athletics Championships," said Sasco President Barry Hendricks in a statement.
Ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, he said "excitement" was the order of the day among athletes.
"Such events hold significant importance in the sports calendar as they serve as qualifiers for athletes to secure Paralympic slots," added Henricks
Another top pick is Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist in para-cycling Pieter du Preez, who was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards in 2016. He has won the Berlin Marathon more than six times and is a multiple African and world record holder, and a world champion.
Paralympians Ndodomzi Jonathan Ntutu, Tyron Pillay, Louzanne Coetzee, Liezel Gouws, Sheryl James and Mpumelelo Mhlongo also made the list.
“The selected team is a strong unit with extensive global experience. Several team members have achieved medals at various competition levels, including the Paralympics," said Sascoc CEO Nozipho Jafta.
SOUTH AFRICA'S PARA-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
Ntombizanele Situ, Tezna Abrahams, Sheryl James, Louzanne Coetzee, Liezel Gouws, Yane van der Merwe, Juane le Roux, Simone Kruger, Ndodomzi Ntutu, Mpumelelo Mhlongo, Puseletso Mabote, Tebogo Mofokeng, Refilwe Mosifane, Jaco Smit, Kerwin Noemdo, Tyrone Pillay, Brandon Beack, Pieter du Preez Guides: Erasmus Badenhorst, Clause Kempen.