Montjane and Du Toit named flag bearers for the Paralympic Games
Para-athlete Charl du Toit and wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso Montjane are both competing in their third Paralympic Games, having represented the SA team at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games.
South African wheelchair tennis ace Kgothatso ‘KG’ Montjane sealed her place in the singles final at Wimbledon with a victory over Japan’s Momoko Ohtani on July 9, 2021. Photo: @ TennisSA / Twitter
JOHANNESBURG – Charl du Toit and Kgothatso Montjane were named the two flag bearers of the SA team during the opening ceremony on Tuesday of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
The duo are part of a group of 34 athletes who will represent the country through seven sport codes from August 24 to September 5.
Para-athlete Du Toit and wheelchair tennis player Montjane are both competing in their third Paralympic Games, having represented the SA team at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games.
Du Toit is the 100m world record holder and won two gold medals in Rio when he won the T37 titles in the 100m and 400m.
Meanwhile, the wheelchair tennis ace SA recently made Wimbledon history by being the first black South African woman to reach the final at Wimbledon while reaching the doubles final.
Meet the flag bearers of Team SAs for the #Paralympic Games Opening ceremony
Congratulations to you two, @ KGmontjane1 @ Charldutoit37
08/24/2021
13:00 CHAT pic.twitter.com/p4aTQBOgqqTeam South Africa (@ TeamSA2020) 23 Aug 2021
The number of selected athletes is lower than that of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games where South Africa sent 45 athletes in 10 sport codes.
The Rio team won 17 medals – seven gold, six silver and four bronze. The London team won 29 medals – eight gold, 12 silver and nine bronze.
At the Tokyo Games, there are 22 sports, with 4,400 athletes competing in different categories and classes depending on the nature of their disability. Badminton and taekwondo are appearing for the first time.
READ: Team SA names 34 para-athletes for Tokyo Paralympic Games
Watch: Join us in wishing the South African team @ TeamSA2020 all the best as they prepare to compete in the Paralympic Games taking place in Tokyo, Japan starting Tuesday, August 24.
We were convinced that they will carry our flag high and make the nation proud. #Paralympic Games #TeamSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/euiGdsiMXb
Min. Nathi Mthethwa (@NathiMthethwaSA) August 20, 2021
HOW ATHLETES ARE GROUPED
Athletes are grouped into categories based on their physical abilities and this is used to decide which athletes are eligible to compete in each of the sports.
The goal is to create a level playing field by grouping athletes into classes based on their ability to perform certain activities.
Classification provides a structure for Paralympic competition. Athletes who participate in para sports have a disability that results in a competitive disadvantage.
A system has been put in place to minimize the impact of impairments on athletic performance and to ensure that an athlete’s success is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus. This system is called classification.
Each para-athlete has undergone an assessment conducted by officials called âclassifiers,â who are appointed by the international governing body for that particular sport.
The classification determines who is eligible to compete in a parasport, and it groups eligible athletes into sport classes based on their activity limitation in a certain sport.
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, you will see athletes with physical, visual and / or intellectual impairments who have at least one of the following 10 eligible impairments: Reduced Muscle Power, Reduced Passive Range of Motion, Limb Impairment, Length Difference legs, short stature, muscle tension, uncoordinated movements, involuntary movements, visual impairment and intellectual disability.
Each sport has different physical demands and therefore sports classes are different for each sport. This means that a sport class does not necessarily include athletes with the same disability.
If different impairments result in limitations of similar activities, athletes with those impairments are permitted to compete together.
Some sports have only one sport class, for example powerlifting.
Meanwhile, athletics has 52 sport classes that include different disciplines – races, jumps, throws and the sport includes athletes from 10 eligible disabilities.
READ MORE: Tokyo Paralympic Games: SA Team Classifications Explained
Next stop, Tokyo, Japan! # TeamSA# Tokyo2020#Paralympic Games pic.twitter.com/4B0q7FMU1i
Team South Africa (@ TeamSA2020) August 17, 2021
TEAM SA PARA-ATHLETES:
ARCHERY
Shaun Anderson, Philip Coates-Palgrave.
Coach / Director: Barbara Manning.
PARACYCLING
Nicholas Pieter du Preez, Ernst van Dyk, Toni Mold.
Coaches / Management: Elrick Kulsen, Pieter Jansen, Gillian Evans, Walter Lutch.
EQUESTRIAN
Philippa Johnson-Dwyer, Cayla van der Walt.
Coaches / Management: Ingeborg Sanne, Chris Hazen, Robyn van Lijsdonk, Trisha Bell.
PARANATATION
Christian Sadie, Hendrik van der Merwe, Katherine Swanepoel, Alani Ferreira.
Coaches / Management: Theo Verster, Keith Jansen.
Théo Cogill.
Coach / Manager: Anver Lyners.
WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
Kgothatso Montjane, Mariska Venter, Eliphas Maripa, Leon Els.
Coaches / Management: Gerald Stoffberg, Saidi Moruame.
PARA-ATHLETICS
Ntando Mahlangu, Charl du Toit, Dyan Buis, Reinhardt Hamman, Kerwin Noemdo, Mpumelelo Mhlongo, Tebogo Mofokeng, Tyrone Pillay, Daniel du Plessis, Puseletso Michael Mabote, Ndodomzi Ntutu, Anrune Weyers, Sheryl James, Louane Promborize, Johanane , Liezel Gouws
Coaches / management: Cornelia (Lappies) Swanepoel, Suzanne Ferreira, Daniel Damon, Cathy Lansberg, Claus Kempen, Erasmus Badenhorst
The # TeamSA The para-cycling team is on its way to # Tokyo2020 #Paralympic Games pic.twitter.com/Iv8wScXlNb
Team South Africa (@ TeamSA2020) August 22, 2021