Hesron Kapanga
PARIS – Namibian athletes with a disability found the going tough on day three of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, which are underway in Paris, France.
Over 1 300 athletes from 107 nations are competing for 168 medals and qualification slots for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, a major international multi-sport event that involves athletes with a range of disabilities, and it is governed by the IPC.
On Tuesday morning, T13 sprinter Johannes Nambala qualified for the final of the 100 metres (m) after finishing fourth in his heat with a time of 11.20 seconds.
Norwegian athlete and world record holder Ageze Salum Kashafali ran the fastest time from all the heats, clocking 10.74 seconds, while Algerian sprinter Skander Athmani, who won the first heat, clocked the second fastest time of 10.85 seconds to
set up an exciting final on Wednesday, 12 July, at 19h20.
Meanwhile, T11 male sprinters Chris Kinda and his guide Riwaldo Goagoseb, as well as Ananias Shikongo and his guide Sem Shimanda missed out on an opportunity to compete for silverware in the T11 400m
after finishing third and fourth in their respective heats.
Shikongo and his guide finished third in their heat with a time of 52.02 seconds, while Descarrega Gerard of Spain and his guide Guillermo Gil Rojo ran a seasonal best of 50.97 seconds to win that heat.
Their time was the fastest of the two heats that were held on the day.
In the second heat, Kinda and his guide finished last with a time of 52.33 seconds, as they found
it hard to outclass home
favourites Timothee Adolphe and his guide Jeffrey Lami, as well as Gauthier Makunda and his
guide Lucas Mathonat, who finished first and second, respectively, to book themselves spots in the final.
Only the heat winner and the two fastest losers from both heats progressed to the final, slated for Wednesday evening at the Charlety Stadium in Paris,
France.
Namibia’s T11 female sprinter Lahja Ishitile and her guide Sem Shimanda reached the final of the women’s T11 400m race on Monday night after once again setting a new African record, and she will be in contention for a podium place on Tuesday evening.
– Nampa