WINDHOEK – South Africa underlined their bowls dominance on the African continent when both their men and ladies teams topped the overall standings of the African States Bowls Tournament (AST) which ended in Windhoek on Saturday, and in the process successfully defended their title.
The prestigious event, sponsored by Vivo Energy, concluded on Saturday afternoon with the prize-giving at the Eros Bowls Club. The medals were handed out by representative on the Namibian Olympic Committee (NNOC), Gaby Ahrens.
South Africa clinched gold medals in all four disciplines (singles, pairs, triples and fours), winning three of these events without a single defeat. Their female counterparts also came out on top in the singles, pairs and triples events, but had to settle for 3rd place in the fours discipline won by Zambia – leaving hosts Namibia to settle for an overall 4th finish.
While the men enjoyed an excellent campaign on home soil, finishing 2nd in all their events, the women had a rather disappointing tournament. Yet the 2nd place in the fours discipline qualified the team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year. They will now travel to the Scottish capital alongside their triples team, which qualified earlier as well as their male counterparts in the singles, pairs, triples and fours teams.
Player of the tournament:
Men: Bobby Donnelly (South Africa)
Ladies: Obie Mosimanyana (Botswana)
Overall standing of the male events:
Points Shot difference
1. South Africa 28 46
2. Namibia 24 36
3. Zimbabwe 20 27
4. Kenya 15 24
5. Botswana 12 19
6. Zambia 09 14
7. Malawi 04 02
Overall standing of the female events:
Points Shot difference
1. South Africa 22 191
2. Zambia 20 97
3. Zimbabwe 15 49
4. Namibia 11 -46
5. Botswana 10 -41
6. Kenya 06 -250
By Staff reporter