Just after SA’s Special Olympics athletic superstars returned home from Berlin last week, bringing a staggering total of 49 medals back from the Special Olympics World Summer Games with them, the nation celebrates yet another big 49!
ALSO SEE: SA’s Special Olympics team secures 49 medals at World Summer Games in Berlin
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has just announced a team of 49 young athletes to represent Mzansi at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August.
The seventh round of the Commonwealth Youth Games will see over 1000 athletes and para-athletes aged from 14-18 participating in seven sporting codes.
Team SA will shine in all seven sporting codes, namely athletics (including para-athletics), cycling, netball, rugby sevens, swimming, triathlon, and volleyball. The largest contingent will be in rugby sevens, with a squad of 13 players.
📣 Introducing the team that will be representing Mzansi at the #CommonwealthYouthGames: https://t.co/psDxxa28Ek
Best of luck to our talented athletes as they fly our flag high and compete on a global stage. 🏅🔥 Let’s rally behind them and show our support! 🙌💚 #TeamSA
— Team South Africa (@TeamSA2024) July 4, 2023
President of SASCOC, Mr. Barry Hendricks congratulates SA’s chosen stars, saying:
“Congratulations to Team South Africa on your selection to represent the nation at the seventh edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games. Like the AUSC Region 5 Games and Youth Olympics, Commonwealth Youth Games serve as invaluable testing grounds where we are able to gauge talent and map ways to nurture that talent going forward.”
“We wish our future champions the very best in their endeavours, and we will proudly support them as our sport ambassadors with our heads held high. We look forward to them meeting other aspiring champions and forging lifelong international friendships.”
Ms. Nozipho Jafta, SASCOC’s CEO also congratulated Team SA:
“We are proud to send a team of 49 athletes to Trinidad and Tobago to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Being selected to be part of Team South Africa is an honorable achievement.”
Meet SA’s Commonwealth Youth Game stars!
The 49 players chosen to represent South Africa in seven sporting codes at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tabago from 4-11 August are:
Swimming
- Jessica Leigh Thompson
- Simone Shilon Moll
- Cassidy Burgess
- Kian Craig Keylock
- Kris Stefano Mihaylov
- Jarden Dylan Eaton
Athletics
- Colene Catherine Scheepers
- Alicia Eli Khunou
- Tumi Hope Ramokgopa
- Anli Lo-Ann Engelbrecht
- Temoso Masikane
- Hencu Johann Lamberts
- Willem Schalk Jacobus Jansen
Para-Athletics
- Sharety Ziyanda Mahlangu
- Hlelo Modise
- Daniel Tumiso Molobela
- Yamkela Lukhanyo Ntlanti
Beach Volleyball
- Deloshen Valaitham
- Jayden Christiano Cupido
Cycling
- Ethan Garth Kulsen
- Anya Du Plessis
- Miles Bailey Liebenberg
- Jessie Munton
Netball
- Kadijat Kubura Hope Abubakar
- Jade Morgan Atkins
- Ametisse Bakenga Bandu
- Maria Magaritha Du Raan
- Amone Wessels
- Thato Nkanyezi Legodi
- Zahrah Noah
- Luane Smith
- Kiara Van Eeden
- Karla Maria Victor
Rugby Sevens
- Siyanda Nkosi
- Stephanus Lourens Linde
- Jeffwin Olyde Wesso
- Luann Olivier
- James Carleihle Emraan Nero
- Thandolwami Hopewell Ntshangase
- Gino Gordon Cupido
- Siyabonga Lucky Ndlozi
- Lavela Xhanti Pongolo
- Bernardo Maxwill Diedericks
- Samuel Sunnyskies Adriaan Badenhorst
- Luan Giliomee
- Marno Gray Stopforth
Triathlon
- Kadence Ribbink
- Alessandro Michele Fanicchi
- Angel Magdalene Geel
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Feature Image: Unsplash
