Fast-rising 100-metre sprinter Ndawana Haitembu said the recent Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) scholarship she received will play a vital role in helping her realise her Olympic dream.

He was among six athletes awarded scholarships through the IOC Olympic Solidarity Athletes Scholarship Programme, designed to support athletes on their path to qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.

The scholarships make provision for athletes to train at high-performance facilities and gain access to international competitions, ensuring they meet the stringent Olympic qualification standards.

Speaking to New Era Sport recently, Haitembu expressed gratitude for the opportunity, describing it as both timely and inspiring. 

“I applied for the scholarship, and I’m truly grateful to be considered. Being a recipient means a lot to me. It’s not only a vote of confidence in my potential, but also a timely support system that helps me stay focused, compete internationally and train at a high level with ease,” she said.

The 22-year-old added that the initiative will be instrumental in her pursuit to consistently improve her times and compete abroad more frequently.

“This initiative is absolutely crucial, as it allows me to access competitions and training environments necessary to meet qualification standards. I recently started my off-season training in preparation for the next athletics season,” she stated.

Currently, Haitembu is ranked number one nationally in the 100m and sits second in the 200m.

– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na