First Namibian athletes in action

NAMIBIA’s participation at the Commonwealth Games gets underway on Thursday with several athletes in action on the first day.

Jonas, who won a silver medal at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, will take on Rashield Williams of the Bahamas in a Round of 32 encounter of the men’s 64kg light welterweight category at 11h17 Namibian time.

Matias Hamunyela opens his account in the light flyweight category on Friday at 10h47 in a Round of 16 encounter, while Namibia’s third boxer, Tryagain Ndevelo opens his account in a lightweight Round of 16 encounter on Monday, 9 April.

Namibia’s men and women’s bowls teams will also be in action on Thursday with the Men’s Trips team taking on Niue at 01h00 and Canada at 16h00, while the Women’s Fours team will take on Malaysia at 11h00.

The men’s triathlon will also take place at 05h00 with Jean Paul Burger representing Namibia.

The Chef de Mission of the Namibian team, Jesse Schickerling, meanwhile said that the team had settled in and was well prepared for the Games.

“All the team members have finally arrived at the Games Village and have settled in well in a most comfortable environment. Our athletes are relaxed and their spirit is positive. Team members fully comply with their training schedules, have attended the respective technical meetings and are well prepared,” he said.

Schickerling added that doping control tests are currently being done, with three Namibian athletes having been tested, whose results so far have proved to be negative.

Team Namibia was officially welcomed into the Games Village by the Mayor of the Games Village on Sunday, 1 April, while the permanent secretary of the Namibian Ministry of Sport, Emma Kantema Gaoman and the chairperson the Namibia Sports Commission, Freddy Mwiya have also joined the team.