Namibia’s Paralympic athletes Ananias Shikongo and Lahja Ishitile say their minds are currently more focused on the championships than three weeks ago.

Ishitile, Shikongo and Johannes Nambala are representing Namibia at the 2020 Tokyo, Paralympic Games underway in Japan.

Shikongo who has two days left before competing in the T11 category said he is looking forward to representing the country well.

In an interview with Nampa on Thursday, Shikongo said: “My mind is focused I have two days left before my spikes will talk. I might be the individual that will be on the track but there are a lot of Namibians looking up to me to represent them well therefore I don’t want to disappoint those who are always supporting me.”

The sprinter said there are many T11 athletes at the championships this year but he was born ready.

Shikongo will start with his competition on Saturday when he competes in the T11 400-metre heats.

Meanwhile, Ishitile who also competes in the T11 category and had an ankle scare earlier in the week told this agency that she is recovering well.

“My ankle is getting better by the day and I am more than ready compared to the boys in the team because I will start first,” she said.

The athlete who is the only female in the team will be competing in the long jump first on Friday which she enjoys the most.

She called on other female athletes to start taking sports seriously so that there will be more of them in the team in the future.

Namibia’s track and field athletes are expected to start competing on Friday.

Ishitile will compete in the women’s T11 long jump at 02h30 Namibian time and in round one of the T11 400-metre heat at around 04h00.

Team Namibia returned with five medals – one gold, two silver and two bronze from the 2016 Paralympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Source: Namibia Press Agency