Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) secretary-general Michael Hamukwaya said 2022 will be a very busy year for the NPC, which plans on unearthing new talent.
In an interview with Nampa on Thursday, Hamukwaya said the NPC plans to compete at the Commonwealth Games, the World Paralympic Athletics Championships and African Games.
“At the moment, seven athletes are going to Stellenbosch, South Africa for a one-day championship that will be held on 25 February 2022. These athletes are eligible to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England from July to August 2022,” said Hamukwaya, adding that athletes travelling to Stellenbosch for the one-day championship will get the opportunity to improve their rankings.
He also said that for the World Paralympic Athletics Championships and African Games, the NPC will send a team to compete at the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled (SASAPD) competition in March.
“This year we are starting with our pathway to the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games. The SASAPD are part of our preparations and we will send two sport codes, which are athletics and powerlifting,” he said.
Hamukwaya mentioned that the NPC will also send an athlete to the Dubai 2022 World Paralympic Athletics Grand Prix in March.
“It is an exciting year. We hope our athletes will be able to participate at all these athletics events because it’s an opportunity for them to improve their times which will help in their ranking,” he noted.
The secretary-general further expounded that credit should be given to NamPower and the Commonwealth Gap programme, which have helped the NPC in achieving their goals in sports development.
“We all know at the moment our main sponsor, government is having financial difficulties and will not be able to support all the activities that the NPC has planned, but we are thankful to all that come on board to make us help realise the athletes’ dreams,” Hamukwaya said.
The coach explained that the NPC is busy setting up schedules for sports codes such as swimming, powerlifting and boccia.
“We want to send a boccia team to the Africa Games in May but financially we are struggling as the government doesn’t have funds. We hope our good relationship with NamPower will continue so we realise our athletes’ dreams,” he said.
Source: The Namibian press Agency
