Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIA’S Paralympic athletes are on their way home after flying the flag of the Land of the Brave high at the Tokyo Paralympics Games. The games ended on a bittersweet note for Ananias Shikongo, who missed out on a bronze medal in the final heat of the 100m T11 (total blind) sprint event after being disqualified.
Track officials disqualified the athlete after his guide, Even Tjiviju, released him before the pair crossed the finishing line. Shikongo and his guide Sem Shimanda did, however, scoop a silver medal in the men’s 400m, T11 final.
Another member of Team Namibia, Johannes Nambala, won a bronze medal after finishing third in the T13 (partially sighted) 400m race. Nambala finished the race in 48.76 seconds, which is a personal best time for him this past season.
Lahja Ishitilhe and her guide Sydney Kamuaruuma missed out on medals in the heats running up to the final of the 200m race despite finishing a qualifying race in a personal best time of 27.42 seconds.
President Hage Geingob congratulated the medal winners who represented Namibia at the Paralympics Games. “A journey of perseverance and hard work paid off. The medals are well deserved. Proud of the team and well done,” Geingob said on his personal social media platforms. Team Namibia will be welcomed back as heroes when they land at the Hosea Kutako International Airport early next week.
