The eagerly awaited 2017 Nedbank National Championships for the Physically Disabled are just a few days away.The Champs will take place from the 31st March to 04 April in Port Elizabeth as some of the country’s top Para- Athletes battle it out for national honours and recognition.
This year’s event promises to be a tightly contested spectacle with all of Team South Africa’s 2016 Track and Field Paralympic stars already confirming their participation at the Championships. This will be the first time that that the Paralympians will be in top-flight action on home soil since their return from the hugely successful Games in Brazil where they bagged an impressive haul of 17 medals.
This year, approximately 1300 athletes are expected to register to participate in 7 sporting codes, namely Goal Ball, 7 aside football, Judo, Para-cycling, Boccia, Powerlifting and Athletics.
Some of the Paralympic stars set to delight the Port Elizabeth crowd include medal winners Ntando Mahlangu who was undoubtedly one the stars of last year’s Nedbank National Championships in Bloemfontein. Mahlangu went from an unknown 14-year-old to an international superstar in 2016 as he secured an impressive silver medal in the 200m T42 category in Rio. Another track and field icon who will be looking for a big performance in PE is Reinhardt Hamman. The 27-year-old won gold in the men’s Javelin Throw F38 class at the Paralympics and also takes part in the shot put and discuss throw events. Other confirmed stars for the event include Tyrone Pillay, Hilton Langenhoven, Zanele Situ,Arnu Fourie,Anrune Liebenberg,Ndodomzi Ntutu and Dyan Buis.
2017 is also the first year of the new Paralympic four-year cycle and this is where the rough diamonds will be polished and future stars of Team South Africa unearthed. This year also marks 26 years of Nedbank’s long standing support of the National Champs for the Physically Disabled. This platform has provided some of the country’s leading athletes with an opportunity to perform and deliver in front of their home fans and families while also attempting to attain global success and recognition.
“The Champs form part of Nedbank’s focus on sports development as the bank understands the role of sport in creating social cohesion and inspiring the youth to work hard, follow their passions and partner with Nedbank to enable them to achieve their goals. We are delighted to once again be the main sponsor of the Champs and we hope that the heroics of RIO 2016 will be repeated in Port Elizabeth,”- Becky Penumlungu, Nedbank Sponsorship Manager: Lifestyle Properties
Cape Recife will be the host school for this year’s Championship but the events will be spread around various venues in Port Elizabeth.
