Paralympics: KG and Sheryl to fly the Limpopo flag
Kgothatso Montjane (tennis) and Sheryl James (athletics) were named in the 34-strong squad for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
LIMPOPO – South Africa’s squad for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was announced on Saturday (August 14).
Two residents from Limpopo, Sheryl James (athletics) and Kgothatso Montjane (tennis), were named in the 34-strong squad.
Montjane, who was born in Seshego, will be joined by Mariska Venter, Eliphas Maripa and Leon Els to represent the country in wheelchair tennis. James was chosen alongside Ntando Mahlangu, Charl du Toit, Dyan Buis, Reinhardt Hamman, Kerwin Noemdo, Mpumelelo Mhlongo, Tebogo Mofokeng, Tyrone Pillay, Daniel du Plessis, Puseletso Michael Mabote, Ndodomzi Ntutu, Anrune Weyers, Simone Kruger, Ntombizanele Situ, Louzanne Coetzee, Johanna Pretorius and Liezel Gouws for the para athletics.
Montjane, who was part of the squad for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil, should be a strong contender at the Paralympics, after she finished second in the wheelchair tennis final of this year’s Wimbledon tournament.
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“I picked up my love for tennis along the way. I was forced to play tennis while in high school and when I got to varsity, wheelchair tennis was the only sport being played and I decided to join as I had always loved playing sport,” she previously told BONUS.
https://twitter.com/SportsTrustSA/status/1427163610053230596
✨ 7 Days To Go! ✨ We're only 1 week away from the Opening Ceremony! #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics#UnitedByEmotion pic.twitter.com/l8LzrpT9eH
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 17, 2021
Another Limpopo resident to look out for is James who is part of IsAbility Sports Club in Louis Trichardt.
She performed well at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai where she won a bronze medal in the women’s 400m T37.
James took up track athletics at the age of 32 when she joined IsAbility and was encouraged to start sprint training by club founder Johan Snyders.
She was born with cerebral palsy due to a lack of oxygen at birth and suffers from hemiplegia with impaired muscle functionality on the right side of her body.
“It is a huge honour to be included in the Paralympic squad headed for the Summer Games. I believe in the rehabilitative power of sport and hope my Tokyo 2020 performance will encourage people who live with physical disability from the Makhado area to get involved in athletics,” she said.
Snyder said they are excited about her inclusion in the team. “Including Sheryl, IsAbility Sports Club Gauteng and its affiliated club in Limpopo, produced six track and field specialists headed for glory in Japan. We wish Sheryl a great experience at her Paralympic Games debut,” added Snyders.
The rest of the squad:
Archery: Shaun Anderson and Philip Coates-Palgrave.
Para cycling: Nicholas Pieter du Preez, Ernst van Dyk and Toni Mould.
Equestrian: Philippa Johnson-Dwyer and Cayla van der Walt.
Para swimming: Christian Sadie, Hendrik van der Merwe, Katherine Swanepoel and Alani Ferreira.
Table tennis: Theo Cogill.
The Paralympics are scheduled to take place from August 24-September 5.
