WeeklySA_AdminMEDAL TALLY DOWN: The majority of the continent’s success came in track and field events but will not have any competitors in shooting, fencing, wheelchair basketball or rugby
By Sports Reporter
Africa won 63 medals – with a third of those gold – in Tokyo three years ago. However, that tally was down on the 97 medals secured at Rio 2016, with the Covid pandemic’s impact on preparations among the reasons cited for the decrease.
The majority of the continent’s success came in track and field events, with powerlifting the next most successful discipline for African competitors. Gold medals were also won in cycling and judo, with one podium finish also in each of football, table tennis and taekwondo.
Ten African countries are not sending a team to the Games, while nine others are set to have just a single representative. Eritrea is one member of the latter group, with the east African nation also making its Paralympic Games debut.
Egypt, boosted by sides competing in goalball and sitting volleyball, will have 54 athletes at the Games, while Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and Algeria all have teams of over 25.
Africa will not have any competitors in shooting, fencing, wheelchair basketball or rugby. Team SA’s Paralympians were officially welcomed to Paris by the South African ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa, in the athletes’ village on Tuesday.
The ambassador was accompanied by his deputy, Nthabiseng Makuwa, and addressed a gathering of Team SA Paralympians, and motivated them with an inspirational speech. “Welcome to the wonderful city of Paris. Congratulations to each and every one of you and we look forward to you showcasing your talents.
“Go out there and do your best – and most importantly, have fun. The Paralympics are about fun and happiness. There’s a world happiness index and your performances and medals here will add to the happiness back home.” He then paused and added, “no pressure”.
The comment drew laughter and applause from a settled Paralympic squad that is competing across nine different sporting codes, starting with archery on Thursday. The official opening ceremony was staged on Wednesday night.
The president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), Barry Hendricks, was also present to add his congratulations and good wishes to the Paralympians, along with SASCOC CEO Nozipho Jafta and Team SA chef de mission, Patience Shikwambana.
“You’ve worked three long, hard years since the Tokyo Paralympics to be here,” Hendricks told the squad. “Do your best on the field and be good ambassadors off the field. I want to thank Ambassador Mthethwa for hosting us in Paris.” Mthethwa concluded by thanking the various sponsors who had helped deliver Team SA to the Paralympics, including Bidvest, Mr Price Sport, MTN, the Department Sport, Arts and Culture and the SASCOC Board.
“Congratulations in advance to all you are going to achieve. We wish all of you good luck in your competition,” he said. With the continent looking to build on the first African Para Games, held last year in Ghana, BBC Sport Africa has picked out a few names to watch in Paris.
Noemi Alphonse (Mauritius, Para-athletics)
The 28-year-old wheelchair racer made history at the Para-Athletics World Championships in May by winning a first ever gold medal for Mauritius at the event. As well as her victory in the women’s T54 100m, Alphonse also picked up silver over 200m. The next target is a first Paralympic medal of any colour for the Indian Ocean island nation, despite Alphonse coming close in Tokyo with a fifth-placed finish in the 100m.
The African record holder in her category from 100m to 1500m, she will have three attempts on the track before the women’s marathon. T54 1500m: heats on Monday, 2 September, final on Tuesday, 3 September; T54 100m: Wednesday, 4 September; T54 400m: Thursday, 5 September; T54 marathon: Sunday, 8 September.
Brahim Guendouz (Algeria, Para-canoe) The paddler from Annaba is another athlete chasing a slice of history.
Guendouz became the first Para-canoeist representing Algeria to claim a World Championship medal when he took bronze in the KL3 200m in Germany last year.
That result secured a quota place for the North African country in Paris and also saw him named 2023 Para-sportsman of the year by the Algerian Press Service.
The 25-year-old has been training in Spain this year to prepare for his Paralympic debut. Can he win Algeria’s first Paralympic medal outside of athletics, judo and powerlifting? KL3 K1 200m: heats on Friday, 6 September, semi-final and final on Saturday, 7 September. Husnah Kukundakwe (Uganda, Para-swimming)
Three years ago, she was the youngest competitor in Tokyo, aged just 14 and 154 days, meaning Kukundakwe will have a second Paralympics under her belt before reaching adulthood. She finished 12th in the SB8 100m breaststroke in Japan but improved to secure seventh at last year’s World Championships in Manchester.
Uganda won one medal in Tokyo, a bronze, and is still waiting for its first Paralympic gold. SB8 100m breaststroke: Friday, 30 August; S8 50m freestyle: Thursday, 5 September; S8 100m butterfly: Saturday, 7 September.
Thomas Kure (Nigeria, Para-powerlifting)
The only man in his country’s eight-strong powerlifting team at the Games, Kure may need to be at his peak to reach the podium in the under 65kg weight class.
The 35-year-old won a bronze medal at the sport’s World Championships in Dubai last year.
His personal best lift of 202kg ranks him third among the eight entrants in his category. With compatriots Bose Omolayo and Folashade Oluwafemiayo defending their Paralympic titles in Paris, can Kure tap into the knowledge and experience of some of his female team-mates and return to Lagos with a medal?
Men’s 65kg final: Thursday, 5 September.
Tlili is aiming to win two gold medals at a third successive Paralympics The 34-year-old is her country’s joint record-holder for the most gold medals (six) and podium finishes (eight) at the Paralympics. She won both the discus throw and shot put competitions in the F41 category at the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Games.
In fact, Tlili is unbeaten in the shot put since her Paralympic debut in Beijing in 2008, while she took silver in her discus class at those Games and also at London 2012. Can she continue her dominance while under pressure from Morocco’s Youssra Karim, who pipped Tlili to the discus world title earlier this year?
F41 shot put: Friday, 30 August; F41 discus throw: Wednesday, 4 September.
