Athens Paralympics gold medallist Oscar Pistorius and Commonwealth Games stars Hilton Langenhoven and David Roos were among a host of disabled sport stars banking on success as the 2006 Nedbank South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled Games opened in Bloemfontein on Monday.
Over the next week, the Free State capital can expect to witness sports of the highest quality as the country’s top disabled athletes compete in such codes as archery, athletics, swimming and basketball at venues that include the Free State Athletics Stadium, Vista University, Grootvlei prison and Kwaggafontein.
The competition got off to a good start on the cycling track on Monday, with the junior cyclists showing their class.
Thabo Sessing of the Northern Cape bettered three South African records and Ashley Branco of Central Gauteng claimed two.
In the senior archery competition, the best performers were Dolf Kruger of North West, who shot 921 points in the Paralympic qualifying round, while Bruce Nielson of Central Gauteng shot 422 points in the single standard round.
In the junior competition, Eastern Province’s Mandisi Skweyiya shot 903 points in the double standard round.
Tuesday sees a full track and field programme at the Free State Athletics Stadium with Pistorius, the Athens 100m track champion, competing together with Langenhoven and Roos, the 100m and 200m gold and silver medallists from Melbourne. — Sapa