OWN CORRESPONDENT, Kuala Lumpur | Thursday 11.40am.
STAR pole-vaulter Ockert Brits has pulled out of the South African Commonwealth Games team, troubled by a hamstring injury.
Brits will also no longer be competing in the Athletics World Cup, which begins at the Johannesburg Stadium on Friday.
Brits informed Athletics SA secretary-general Banele Sindani of his decision on Wednesday evening. Sindani said Brits’s withdrawal is a blow, as the team had been expecting him to battle for the gold medal with Riaan Botha. Brits is one of few men ever to have cleared six metres in the event.
Meanhwile, various other injuries are plaguing the South Africans.
Marie-Louise Henning, up for the 800m, is being treated for mild tendonitis in her leg. Hendrik Mokganyetsi, planning to run in the 400m, has a lower back complaint. Both are expected to be able to compete.
Among the cricketers, Alan Dawson is dealing with a thigh muscle strain and Herschelle Gibbs has had his knee treated.
Hockey player Craig Fulton is suffering horribly being hit in the groin by a ball during practice.
The gymnasts are the least fortunate, with Dewald Laubscher suffering a stiff neck, Jana Kruger a sprained ankle, Zoltan Erdey a sore leg and Caroline Demetriou shin pain.
Pretoria’s Desmarie Kotze panicked the South African netball team in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, injuring her ankle in a warm-up game against Canada. There for the Commonwealth Games, the team was much relieved when team doctor Ismail Jakoet found the injury is not serious and Kotze will be available for Saturday’s match against Sri Lanka in a Pool B match. Meanwhile, SA beat the Canadians 53-35, from a 32-18 half-time lead.