Namibia finishes 39th at Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships

The 2024 World Para Athletics Championships saw Namibia ranked 39th out of the over 100 countries that competed in the championships held in Kobe, Japan from 17 to 25 May 2024.
The 11th edition of the Para Athletics World Championships saw over 1 000 athletes compete in 168 medal events (92 male, 75 female and one mixed) at the Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium, one of Japan’s leading multi-purpose stadiums.
Namibia finished higher than at last year’s event, when they ended in 43rd place with three silver medals. Their 39th place finish came with a gold medal and a bronze medal in the T11 400-meter male and female categories.
T11 male sprinter Chris Kinda and his guide Kelvin Goagoseb won a gold medal, while Lahja Ishitile and her guide Sem Shimanda won bronze in the women’s 400m finals.
China finished first in the medal standings with 87 medals which were 33 gold, 30 silver and 24 bronze. Brazil came second with 42 medals (19 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze) while Uzbekistan finished off the podium places with 13 medals (seven gold, four silver and two bronze).
The highest-ranked African team was Algeria, which ranked ninth with a total of 13 medals (five gold, five silver, and three bronze).
The highest-ranked team in Southern Africa was South Africa, which ranked 22nd with a total of six medals (two gold, two silver, and two bronze).
After the championships, Namibia secured one slot, which will be added to the three slots they won at the 2023 Paris World Para Athletics championships. Namibia has a total of four slots for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, which will be held from 28 August to 08 September 2024, in Paris, France.
In an interview with Nampa on Sunday, Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) secretary general Michael Hamukwaya said the advancement of positions and the acquisition of a new slot for the Paralympic Games is something to be proud of.
“Having a new young athlete crowned as world champion is brilliant. This shows there is potential, and we are happy to have a new world champion, something we did not have for a long time,” he said.
Hamukwaya added that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service should be applauded for consistently funding the NPC as it demonstrates their trust and belief in the committee.
“Credit should also be given to NamPower for their continuous support of the NPC when called upon,” Hamukwaya said.
The team is expected back in Namibia on Tuesday morning.
(NAMPA)
HK/AS
(NAMPA)