A squad of 26 athletes has been named to represent Team South Africa at the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, from 20-30 July.
The team will take part in a total of seven sports in these Games, the 10th edition of a multi-coded sporting event which showcases the non-Olympic sporting codes.
Team South Africa will compete in: Aero sport, Archery, Cue Sport, Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Sport Climbing and Tug of War.
The bulk of the squad will come from the team sport of tug-of-war, which will feature 10 athletes.
At the previous games in Cali, Colombia, Team SA brought home a total of four medals, one gold from Rugby Sevens and three bronze – two from Lifesaving and another from Tug-of-War.
Prior to that, at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Team SA won two bronze medals and a silver.
Ms Jean Kelly will lead the team as Chef de Mission.
‘I’m humbled to lead Team South Africa to yet another world prominent event, the World Games in Poland. I believe that our best team has been selected across the wide spectrum of the sport codes and to this end I’m also confident that this will be reflected by their excellent performances at the Games,’ said Jean Kelly.
‘I wish the team all the best in the Games, enjoy the experience and be rest assured that the whole nation is rallying behind you.’
Added SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy. ‘Previous editions of the World Games have proven to be a very competitive sporting arena where our athletes have to fully prepare to tackle the world in various sports disciplines. But I believe our athletes are well-prepared and will improve on the medal count we achieved in the previous games.’
The full team is as follows:
AERO SPORT
Matteo Pagani
ARCHERY
Boys: Septimus Cilliers, Adriaan Crowther
Manager/Coach: Barbara Manning
CUE SPORT
Girls: Nicola Illse Rossouw
Boys: Manuel Peter Francisco
Manager/Coach – Ishaun Singh
GYMNASTICS
Girls: Bianca Zoonekynd, Grace Legote and Dominique Mann
Boys: Offering Tlaka, Wilson Mafona and Terence Ledwaba
Coaches: Mandy Zoonekynd, Tatiana Lavrentchouk-vizer, Alta Lategan and Hudson Nxumalo
POWERLIFTING
Chantelle Du Toit
Manager / Coach: Rodney Anthony
SPORT CLIMBING
Adam Ludford, Oliver Marx
Manager / Coach: George Stainton
TUG OF WAR
Girls: Jancke De Wet, René Groenewald, Ané Ras, René Ras, Claudia Rix, Leonel Steyn, Nadine Stoop, Kittie Terblanche, Samantha Wilmot.
Manager/Coach: Anton Gerber and Charlie Solms
GENERAL TEAM MANAGEMENT (GTM)
Chef de Mission: Jean Kelly, Athletes Services: Vicky Hlatshwayo, Logistics: Kagisho Matolong
MEDICAL TEAM: Dr. Phato Zondi Physiotherapists: Siyabonga Kunene and Corinne Shepard
Issued by SASCOC
21 June 2017