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Athletes with physical disabilities and the visually impaired from accross South Africa, are taking part in the National Championships in Bloemfontein from 21 to 25 March.
The competition of the South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled and Visually Impaired (FSSAPD) is an important event in the annual disability sport calendar, especially with the Paralympic Games only five months away.
Athletes in eight sport codes will be competing at different events in the Free State capital – swimming at the University of the Free State, Boccia at the Callie Human Hall, Goalball at the Tempe Indoor Centre, Para Judo at the Martie du Plessis School, Paralympic Powerlifting at the Training Edge Gym in Fichardtpark, Cerebral Palsy Football at the UFS Soccer Field, Para-cycling at Brandkop and the Mangaung-stadium and athleics at the Mangaung-stadium.
At the launch at the Bon Hotel Bloemfontein Central on Friday, 1 March, four valuable members of the South African team were awarded their Protea Colours.
Estean Badenhorst, Para-athlete Louzanne Coetzee’s guide in the short distances, was awarded Protea colours for being her guide in the World Para-athletics Championship in Paris where they attained a silver medal as well as the silver medal the received in the 1 500 m at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
Claus Kempen received his Protea Colours for being Louzanne’s guide in the marathon. Louzanne obtained a bronze medal in the marathon at the Tokyo Paralympic Games and ran the London Marathon last year with Kempen to qualify for the Paralympic Games this year.
Vincent Ramochela, the ramp operator for Karabo Morapedi in Boccia, also received his Protea Colours after assisting Karabo in the first Boccia World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. They are also on their way to the Paralimpic Games in Paris after participating in Egypt.
Marisa Potgieter, team manager for the South African Boccia team that went to Rio de Janeiro and the African Championships in Egypt, also received her Protea Colours.
Rudi Kuhn, vice chairperson of the FSSAPD, said some of the highlights at the championship in Bloemfontein is some of South Africa’s Paralympic and World Champions' hero’s like hometown star Louzanne Coetzee, as well as Simone Kruger (track and field athlete), Mpumelelo Mhlongo (long jump and 100 m), Kerwin Noemdo (shot put) and Puseletso Mabote (track and field athlete).
In two weeks, 348 athletes will take part in the Championships from all nine provinces as well as Lesotho and Botswana and many will aim to qualify for the Paralympic Games.
The opening ceremony for the championships is at 17:30 on 21 March at the Callie Human Centre on the UFS main campus.
“We invite people from Bloemfontein to support these athletes to do their best in the Championships.”
