Team SA at Paris Paralympics: Kgothatso Montjane, Mariska Venter take centre stage

Kgothatso Montjane (pictured) and Mariska Venter in the wheelchair tennis women’s doubles will headline Team SA at the Paris Paralympics on Friday. Picture: Phill Magakoe/AFP

Kgothatso Montjane (pictured) and Mariska Venter in the wheelchair tennis women’s doubles will headline Team SA at the Paris Paralympics on Friday. Picture: Phill Magakoe/AFP

Published Aug 30, 2024

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It will be a busy day for Team SA at the Paris Paralympics on Friday, with Kgothatso Montjane and Mariska Venter the headline acts for the Rainbow nation.

Here is the full schedule of Team SA athletes in action on Friday.

Athletics

10.34am - 100m men T12, heats (Jaco Smit)

7.57pm - 200m women, T37, final (Sheryl James)

Boccia (a version of bowls)

2pm - individual women BC3, preliminary round (Elanza Jordaan)

9.40pm - individual men BC3, preliminary round (Karabo Morapedi)

Swimming

11.02am - 100m backstroke men S13, heats (Nathan Hendricks)

7.44pm - 100m backstroke men S13, final (Nathan Hendricks)

Wheelchair tennis

12pm - Singles men, first round (Alwande Sikhosana)

12pm - Doubles women, first round (Kgothatso Montjane, Mariska Venter)

12pm - Quad doubles, quarterfinals (Donald Ramphadi, Lucas Sithole)

The Paris Paralympics began on Wednesday and will run until September 8.

Team SA fielded a team of 20 athletes for the Paris Paralympics. Athletics boasts the biggest contingent with nine athletes in action. Swimming has the next highest with five South Africans competing.

French President Emmanuel Macron declared the Games open on Wednesday during a ceremony in a balmy Place de la Concorde in central Paris - the first time a Paralympic opening ceremony has taken place away from the main stadium.

The 4,400 competitors from 168 delegations paraded into the arena as the sun set with host nation France entering last to a standing ovation from 30,000 spectators.

The fine weather was in sharp contrast to the heavy rain which fell throughout the Olympics opening ceremony on July 26.

Ticket sales had been sluggish for the Paralympics, but they have accelerated since the Olympics and organisers say more than two million of the 2.5 million available have been sold, with several venues sold out.

IOL Sport, additional reporting by AFP