Four athletes have been selected to represent Namibia at the second edition of the U/15 World School Sports Games scheduled for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The World School Sport Games is an international multi-sport event organised by the International School Sport Federation (ISF). It is the largest of many other sports events held by the ISF.
The 2023 U/15 ISF World School Summer Games (Summer High School Games) will see athletes compete in over 25 sports codes from 19 to 27 August 2023.
The four athletes representing Namibia are Lizel Mwiza Munyaza from the //Kharas region, who will compete in the 100 metres (m) and 200 metres; Alexandra Veronique Scheepers from Khomas (high jump and long jump); Lazarus Manyima from Kavango East, who will compete in middle and long-distance running (1 500m and 3 000m) and Lodewikus L’Wyk Viljoen from Erongo (discus and shot-put throw).
In an interview with Nampa on Tuesday, Namibia School Sports Union (NSSU) national coordinator Roger Kambatuku said the NSSU selected four of its best athletes to represent the country in field and track events.
“We selected the best-performing athletes at the national junior championships that were held in Windhoek earlier this year. We would have loved to take a bigger team, but due to financial constraints, we are not able to,” he said.
Kambatuku added that the selected athletes will travel to Windhoek on 13 August 2023, where they will go through the last preparation phases.
“Our goal is to expose these athletes to international competitions while at the same time making sure that the NSSU is active in international competitions, as skipping this type of championship can get us sanctioned or penalised. We are, therefore, going to send a small delegation, as the team coaches will also double as team managers,” Kambatuku said.
The team will be managed by Eveline Renate Visagie from the //Kharas region, who will also double as a coach.
They are expected to depart for Brazil on 17 August 2023, with the opening ceremony for the World School Summer Games slated for 19 August 2023.
– Nampa