SOUTH AFRICA QUAD TEAM MAKE BNP PARIBAS WORLD TEAM CUP HISTORY

FIRST AFRICAN TEAM TO REACH CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS AT ITF’S FLAGSHIP WHEELCHAIR TENNIS TEAM EVENT.

ITF WHEELCHAIR WORLD TEAM CUP

South Africa’s quad team made BNP Paribas World Team Cup history on the fourth day of this year’s competition after becoming the first African team to reach one of the four championship finals at the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis team event.

Credit: Mathilde Dusol

After successive bronze medals in 2019 and 2021, South Africa can look forward to an upgrade this year, but to lift the World Team Cup trophy in Saturday’s final and take home the gold medals, Donald Ramphadi, Lucas Sithole and Danny Mohlamonyane will need to find a formula to turn round the result of their round-robin group contest against top seeds Netherlands.

South Africa started this year’s event as seventh seeds, due to former world No. 2 Lucas Sithole currently not having a ranking. However, with the 2013 US Open champion returning to international competition this week for the first time since September 2019, his experience of playing at the highest level paid off, even if he is yet to regain peak performance, as he launched South Africa’s 2-1 win over a Brazilian team also looking to reach a first World Team Cup final.

Sithole held off Leandro Pena 6-2 2-6 6-2 in his first career match against the Brazilian, but world No. 7 Ramphadi was in no mood to entertain any thoughts of a third set against world No. 8 Ymanitu Silva, racing through the second singles match 6-0 6-1.

“I’m very excited for us to be going to the finals for the first time,” said 28-year-old Ramphadi. “I’m very happy with how my teammate Lucas played, because he really made the job easier for me, but then also for my own performance. And to be the first team from Africa to make it to the World Team Cup finals and for me to be a part of that, I’m really happy.”

Having beaten South Africa 3-0 in their group match that spanned two days of play due to rain, Netherlands Sam Schroder and Niels Vink again set out on a mission in their semi-final against USA.

The world’s top two ranked players showed why they look set to dominate the sport for some time to come, Schroder defeating USA team debutant Eric Court 6-0 6-0 and world No. 1 Vink producing another clinical performance to beat former world No. 1 David Wagner 6-0 6-2.

AUSTRALIA AND GREAT BRITAIN HEAD JUNIOR SEMI-FINALISTS

In 2019 Australia and Great Britain fought out a memorable match tie-break at the end of the deciding doubles match in the World Team Cup junior final.

Three years later they could be set for another title decider after topping their respective roundrobin groups, with France and Netherlands completing a semi-final line-up featuring three previous champions of the Johan Cruyff Foundation-supported junior event.

Great Britain’s Joshua Johns, Andrew Penney and Dahnon Ward combined to earn Great Britain a 30 win over Brazil in their last contest in Group A. The British team had previously beaten France and USA 3-0, but as France met USA in a must-win contest for both teams it was the French duo of Ksenia Chasteau and Justin Michel that won the deciding doubles match tie-break for a 6-4 5-7 (108) victory.

As Australia ended their Group B contests with a 3-0 win over Argentina, Netherlands 2-0 win over 2021 champions Japan does not do justice to the competitiveness of the tie, with both singles rubbers going to three sets.

Great Britain will face Netherlands and Australia will play France in Friday's semi-finals.

In 14th Place with 509 hits

Double Bronze For Sa Pair In Bristol

SOUTH AFRICA LEFT BRISTOL WITH TWO BRONZE MEDALS TO SHOW FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN THE WORLD BOWLS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Team South Africa will no doubt take the positives from a demanding week on the artificial surfaces in England. It bodes well for when the rest of the national team join Jason Evans and Colleen Piketh for the Commonwealth Games later in the year.

South African duo Jason Evans and Colleen Piketh were undone in the semi-finals of the Mixed Pairs. Their efforts against Scottish duo of Michael Stepney and Claire Anderson, who ended Piketh's run in the Singles at the Last 16 stage, were commendable as they won the opening set.

Unfortunately, the Scots, who would ultimately go on to lose the final, won the second 8-6 to set up a tie break which South Africa lost.

Evans then was up against Stepney in the Men's Singles semi-finals but there would be no revenge as the Scot produced a stellar game to win both sets. Stepney would go on to win the final and claim gold.

In a much-anticipated return to international competition, two bronze medals from the three formats will go down as a successful event for the top South African duo, who continue to deliver outstanding results at the highest level.

In 13th Place with 517 hits

Lifesaving Sa National Team Shine At Isl Lifesaving World Championships In Italy

SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL SQUAD FINISH 8TH OVERALL AT THE 2022 ILS LIFESAVING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Lifesaving South Africa national squad showed their class to finish 8th overall at the 2022 ILS Lifesaving World Championships held in Riccione, Italy.

Every two years the ILS Lifesaving World Championships showcases excellence in lifesaving sport and rescue; attracting the most talented and skilled lifesaving athletes from around the world to compete for the title of World’s best.

This was set to take place in 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic it was postponed to September 2022 with a reduced programme at the expense of Interclub, IRB and Surfboat events. Only the National Teams Youth, Open, and master’s Championships were held.

With a relatively inexperienced squad, South Africa showed their dominance in the Surf events. The Proteas finished 3rd in the Championships in both the Open and Youth Surf competitions and placed 8th overall in the combined Open and Youth for Surf and Pool.

The South African Junior athletes were exceptionally strong on the sand with Jenna Tarr taking silver in the Junior Girl’s sprint and Nikki Challenor just missing out on a medal to finish 4th. Jenna also finished 5th in the Beach sprints and the Junior Girls team showed their mettle to claim silver in the Beach Relay.

In the Junior Boy’s Beach Sprints, Max Davidson won bronze and was closely followed by Samuel Booysen in 4th. The biggest celebration, though, was for Samuel who outshone his strong opposition from Spain to win gold for South Africa in the Beach Flags. Samuel showed a wonderful display of courage to keep fighting back against the rest of the field. In the final run he slipped on his take off, but with speed he managed to outdo his competition to take gold and the title of World Champion.

Another World Champion is that of junior Naor Lombard who finished in the top 6 in all his individual events with the bronze medal in Ironman, Taplin and Mixed Ocean Lifesaver events, 4th in Board Rescue and 6th in the Board Race. His finest moment came when he slipped up the inside of the lead pack who were busy holding off his young teammate Levi Mayes, winning the gold to claim the World Champion title in the Surf Ski.

The Junior Girl’s duo of Georgia Singe and Tatum Botha were impressive in their events with Georgia placing 4th in Ironwoman, 5th in Board while Tatum placed 8th in Ironwoman, 9th in Board, 5th in Surf Swim and the team events included a 4th for Taplin, Board Rescue 5th, Tube Rescue 8th and a bronze medal for the Mixed Ocean Lifesaver event.

The South African Open team showed their experience in the Beach Flags with former double World Champion Ryle de Morny taking the silver medal, while Chevan Clarke had to bow out due to injury in 6th place. Ryle also claimed bronze in the Beach Sprint, with Chevan finishing 6th while the Men’s Beach Relay team pushed hard to finish 5th.

In the women’s Flags, Ellen Kleinsmidt placed 8th and Melissa Corbett was knocked out at 15th. Melissa pushed hard on the sand, coming in 6th in the Women’s Beach Sprints.

In the Surf, the Open team gave a good account of themselves. Mark Keeling stole the show to take the World Championship title, this time in senior Surf Ski, making it a double victory for our men, and showing Team South Africa’s strength in the water. Mark was in the lead pack from the start and put down the hammer to claim gold and gave a captain’s salute as he crossed the finish line.

The talented duo of Sasha Corris and Amica de Jager showed their class with Sasha placing 9th and Amica 12th in the Ironwomen, 13th and 14th in Board, 13th in Taplin, 6th in Mixed Ocean Lifesaver, 8th in Tube Rescue and Sash placing 8th in Surf Swim.

Another talented duo of Cheyne Haupt and Luke Nisbet added points to the South Africa’s overall tally with Cheyne 8th and Luke 9th in Ironman, Cheyne 9th and Luke 10th in Board, 5th in Tube Rescue, 3rd in Men’s Taplin, and Cheyne also placing 9th in Surf Ski and Luke 10th in Surf Swim.

In the Pool, the Open and Youth teams added valuable points to their overall tally, which cannot be underestimated, and this helped Team South Africa finish 8th overall with a total of 784.50 points.

In the Senior Pool events, Kendra du Toit placed 6th in both the 200m Super Lifesaver and 100m Manikin Tow with fins, 7th in 100m Manikin Carry with fins, with the Women’s team placing 2nd in the 4x25m Manikin Relay and 5th in the 4 x 50m Obstacle Relay (B finals).

Len-Douglas MacKay finished in 6th in the 100m Manikin Tow with fins, and 4th in 200m Super Lifesaver, which saw him breaking the South African record.

Aiden Bornman shone in the Juniors Pool events, being the only SA team member to make three A finals, finishing 7th in 200m Obstacle, 8th in 200m Super Lifesaver and 8th in 100m Rescue Medley.

Aiden also placed 6th in 100m Manikin Tow with fins, 1st in 50m Manikin Carry, 7th in mixed 4x50m Obstacle Relay, 8th in 4x50m Medley Relay (B finals).

The Junior Girls team results were impressive; in the 4x50m Obstacle Relay they powered to 2nd place, in the 4x25m Manikin they claimed 1st place, and in the 4x50m Medley Relay they finished a credible 5th (B finals).

“The team displayed some great results in both the youth and open competitions. We set out to place in the top three and that's what we achieved. We are extremely happy with the team’s overall performance, South Africa walk away with a nice basket of medals and several SA records in the pool. The team really did their best and the results speak for themselves,” commented Mike Rodda, National Team Manager.

Congratulations to all the athletes on a successful World Championships, and a huge thank you to the management, coaches, and supporters.

Full Results for South Africa

Open and Youth Overall

8th with 784.50 points

Open Results:

Surf: 3rd, 278.50 points

Pool: 16th, 33 points

Overall: 9th, 311.50 points

Open Individual Results:

Surf

• Ironwoman: Sasha Corris 9th, Amica de Jager 12th

• Ironman: Cheyne Haupt 8th, Luke Nisbet 9th

• Women beach sprint: Melissa Corbett 6th

• Men beach sprint: Ryle de Morny 3rd, Chevan Clarke 6th

• Men beach relay 5th

• Women board: Sasha Corris 13th, Amica de Jager 14th

• Men surf ski: Mark Keeling 1st, Cheyne Haupt 9th

• Women rescue tube rescue: SA 8th

• Men rescue tube rescue: SA 5th

• Women Taplin: SA 13th

• Men Taplin: SA 3rd

• Women Beach Flags: Ellen Kleinsmidt 8th, Melissa Corbett 15th

• Men Beach Flags: Ryle de Morny 2nd, Chevan Clarke 6th

• Men Board: Cheyne Haupt 9th, Luke Nisbet 10th

• Women Surf Swim: Sasha Corris 8th

• Men Surf Swim: Luke Nisbet 10th

• Mixed Ocean Lifesaver: SA 6th

Pool

• Women 4 x 50m Obstacle relay: 5th B final

• Women 100m manikin tow with fins: Kendra du Toit 6th B final

• Men 100m manikin tow with fins: Len-Douglas Mackay 6th B final

• Women 4x25m manikin relay: SA 2nd B final

• Women 200m Super Lifesaver: Kendra du Toit 6th B final

• Men 200m Super Lifesaver: Len-Douglas Mackay 4th B final

• Women 100m manikin carry with fins: Kendra du Toit 7th B final

• Mixed 4x50 Lifesaver relay: SA 7th B final

Junior Results:

Surf: 3rd, 394 points

Pool: 10th, 79 points

Overall: 7th, 473 points

Surf

• Ironwomen: Georgia Singe 4th, Tatum Botha 8th

• Ironman: Naor Lomboard 3rd, Christian Davidson 6th

• Women board rescue: SA 5th

• Men board rescue: SA 4th

• Women beach sprint: Jenna Tarr 2nd, Nicolette Challenor 4th

• Men beach sprint: Max Davidson 3rd, Samuel Booysen 4th

• Women beach relay: SA 2nd

• Men beach relay: SA 6th

• Women board: Georgia Singe 5th, Tatum Botha 9th

• Men surf ski: Naor Lombard 1st, Levi Mayes 4th

• Women tube rescue: SA 8th

• Women Taplin: SA 4th

• Men Taplin: SA 3rd

• Women Beach flags: Jenna Tarr 5th

• Men Beach Flags: Samuel Booysen 1st, Max Davidson 14th

• Women surf ski: Georgia Singe 6th

• Men board race: Levi Mayes 4th, Naor Lombard 6th

• Women surf swim: Tatum Botha 5th, Holly Cleworth 11th

• Men surf swim: Christian Davidson 6th, Aiden Bornman 25th

• Mixed Ocean Lifesaver: SA 3rd

Pool

• Men 200m obstacle: Aiden Bornman 7th in A final, Christian Davidson 4th in B final

• Women 4x50m obstacle relay: SA 2nd in B final

• Men 4x50m obstacle relay: SA 7th in B final

• Men 100m manikin tow with fins: Aiden Bornman 6th in B final

• Men 50m manikin carry: Aiden Bornman 1st in B final

• Women 4x25m manikin relay: SA 1st in B final

• Men 200m super lifesaver: Aiden Bornman 8th in A final

• Women 4x50m medley relay: SA 5th in B final

• Men 4x50m medley relay: SA 8th in B final

• Men: 100m rescue medley: Aiden Bornman 8th in A final

• Mixed 4x50m Lifesaver relay: SA 4th in B final