Category: Sports

Namibia’s mountain bikers Alex Miller and Anri Krugel were over the weekend crowned Nedbank National Cross-Country champions in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.

The Nedbank National Cross-Country championships were held in the coastal town of Swakopmund on Friday and Saturday.

The two-day event saw Miller successfully defending the elite men’s title which he has won in a row since 2019. The elite women’s category saw Krugel dethroning 2022 champion Monique du Plessis, to be crowned the new Nedbank National women’s cross-country champion.

In the short course category held on Friday, Miller won that race after overpowering Hugo Hahn and Tristan de Lange to once again reclaim that title, while in the national cross-country race that was held on Saturday, Miller came third behind South African rider Alan Hatherly and Danish rider Simon Andreassen who finished first and second respectively.

Miller was just a second behind the winner Hatherly. He was in a photo finish with Andreassen. Hatherly and Andreassen could not claim the national title as they are non-Namibian.

In the women’s category, Du Plessis won the short course race on Friday, finishing ahead of Nicola Fester and Luanne van der Schyff.

The elite cross-country women’s category held on Saturday was won by Krugel who dominated that race finishing 20 minutes ahead of Du Plessis who was in second place, and Van der Schyff who was third and 27 minutes behind the winner.

JG van der Westhuizen won the Under-23 men’s category, Kevin Lowe was crowned the Junior men’s champion, and Eden Spangenberg won the Junior women’s category.

Elvira Dickerson was the first woman to win the E-Bike cross-country category while Andre Steinfurth was the first man to win.

In an interview with Nampa on Monday, Miller said it remains a privilege to defend the national title.

“Wearing the national flag is always a huge privilege. I am happy to have competed at this well-organised event and the support from the organiser was good,” he said while calling on more Namibians to take up cycling as a sport.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Kavango West regional football team is the new champions for the 21st edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup tournament.

They defeated Otjozondjupa 2-0 in the finals Monday afternoon at the Paresis Sports Stadium in Otjiwarongo.

Oshana Region is in third, and Hardap in fourth place.

The Khomas netball team was the defending champion at the tournament and it successfully retained the trophy by outperforming the regional netball team of Otjozondjupa by 34-27.

The Kavango West netball team is third, and Omaheke in fourth place.

On top of the floating trophies, the overall performer in football received a cash prize of N.dollars 30 000, and gold medals for all players.

The Khomas netball players also received a cash prize of N.dollars 25 000, a floating trophy and gold medals.

The football and netball teams in second and third places also received cash prizes, silver and bronze medals.

The Namibian Newspaper Cup tournament has become an annual event in the country.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Nigerian weightlifter, Adenike Olarinoye has been appointed as member of the Athlete’s Commission of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

A statement from Tony Nezianya, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) on Thursday said the appointment was approved at an ANOCA forum held in Algiers, Algeria.

Nezianya also quoted NOC Secretary-General, Tunde Poopola, in a congratulatory message that Olarinoye’s exploit in weightlifting earned her the international appointment.

“There’s no doubt that your appointment is a pride to you but the NOC as well and improve your personal growth generally in sports.

“Once again and on behalf of members of the Olympic Family, we praise this outstanding achievement,” the statement quoted Poopola as saying.

Olarinoye who is of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, represented Nigeria at the 2019 African Games which is her maiden African Games appearance.

She claimed three medals including two gold medals and silver medal in the women’s 55 kg weightlifting event.

The athlete also created a new African record in weightlifting in the clean and jerk category by lifting 116 kg during the 2019 African Games.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK she won the gold medal with two new Commonwealth Games Records, 92kg in snatch and 203 kg overall.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria