Team SA’s wheelchair athletes ready for action at African Para Games launch

Team South Africa shone at the opening ceremony for the inaugural African Para Games, being held in Accra, Ghana and are ready for action when the games kick off tomorrow.

South Africa’s squad includes 25 athletes representing the country in two sports – men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball and tennis. There’s a lot of excitement as there are places at next year’s Paris Paralympics up for grabs.

There was a ‘slight’ hitch ahead of the opening ceremony when Nigeria were forced to pull out of the event at the last minute. The team was stopped from entering the event by its government, reportedly due to a lack of funds that the government was willing to spend.

Team SA says: “This has left a hole in the wheelchair basketball draw, with Team SA originally drawn in Group C, alongside Nigeria and the Central African Republic. The women are drawn in Group B, with their opponents being Ghana, DR Congo, Morocco, Zambia and Kenya.”

Both Team SA’s men and women wheelchair basket-ballers got into some training on Monday ahead of competition. 

Getting the ball rolling for Team SA at these African Para Games will be the women’s baskeballers, who are scheduled to play Zambia in the opening match on Tuesday.

Go Team SA Go!!! We’re behind you all the way.

Source includes Team SA