Meet Midrand’s underwater hockey player
MIDRAND – A growing sporting code that will have you excited, read about it here
Keandra Langston is an underwater hockey player with so much passion for this wonderful sporting code.
The 23-year-old former Christ Church School learner, and Christ Church underwater hockey coach and MSc Entomology student, said her whole family was now interested in underwater hockey in support of her passion.
She became involved in the sport 12 years ago at Christ Church School and loved it immediately. “There were five of us at the time but now we have 60 young people up to 19 years old. It is a sport where everyone in the family can get involved.”
Langston has represented South Africa in the 2015 World Championship U19 Women in Spain where she won a gold medal. She also participated in the 2017 World Championship U19 Women in Australia and won bronze and in the 2019 World Championship U24 Women in England and won another bronze. She is currently training for the Elite Women’s Team set to compete in Australia in 2023.
She said underwater hockey was growing in the country but many people still did not know much about it. She explained there were 10 players per team, six stay in the water, with four subs and rolling subs who take over when a player gets tired. The puck that is used weighs about 1.5kg.
“The misconception about the sport is that one has to be an extremely good swimmer, obviously you have to be a strong swimmer and most importantly know how to hold your breath for over 30 seconds. You only hold your breath when you go under to play but the rest of the time you will be above water.”
Asked what she would say to a young person interested in the sport, Langston encouraged anyone interested to give it a try and it would be worth it.
If you are curious about underwater hockey, don’t miss their open day at the school on 9 October, 08:00 until 12:00.
Details: Coach Stefan Kostlin 083 632 4644.
