Small SA team aim high at Commonwealth Youth Games
South Africa have a proud history at the tournament having never finished lower than fourth.
Tubby Reddy. Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images.
A 24-member national team has been announced for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas next month.
The young squad would compete in six of the nine codes on show at the five-day showpiece starting on July 19, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) revealed in a statement on Tuesday.
The athletics and swimming contingents would make up two thirds of the squad, with eight team members contesting each of those codes.
While he admitted it was a small team, Sascoc chief executive Tubby Reddy was confident the group was strong enough to challenge the leading medal contenders again.
South Africa finished second at the 2015 edition of the age group spectacle in Apia, Samoa with 13 gold, seven silver and 15 bronze medals.
The national team have never finished outside the top four at the five previous editions of the multi-sport showpiece for Under-18 athletes.
“Though we are sending a lean team we believe it is a strong team who have all met the competitive selection criteria and will do the nation proud,” Reddy said.
“Previously Team SA has performed exceptionally at these games and we therefore hope that the same or even better results will be achieved. “The Commonwealth Youth Games remain an integral event for us as future stars and Olympians rise from events of such a nature.”
SA team:
Aquatics
Boys: Michael Houlie, Jarryd Baxter, Jack Oliver, Luan Grobbelaar
Girls: Rebecca Meder, Hanim Abrahams, Dune Coetzee, Mariella Venter
Athletics
Boys: Luke Davids, Jayson Weber, Lindukuhle Gora, Adam Mayo
Girls: Caroline Mosime, Marli Viljoen, Keletso Senosi, Antoinette van der Merwe
Beach volleyball
Boys: Lukholo Jooste and Aviwe Mamfanya
Boxing
Boys: Sinovuyo Mtintelwa
Girls: Amorie Gonsalves
Judo
Girls: Marli Meiring
Boys: Mosa Thetsane
Tennis
Boys: Siphosothando Montsi
Girls: Minette van Vreden
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