University Sport South Africa (USSA) President Ilhaam Groenewald is confident that Team South Africa can accumulate at least eight medals at the 30th Summer Universiade (World University Games).
The games are scheduled to take place between July 3 until July 14, 2019 in the city of Napoli, Italy.
Groenewald is gunning for at least two gold medals at the biennial games.
SA managed to get five silver medals at the 2017 games in Taiwan to finish 44th on the medal table. Groenewald is counting on athletics and swimming for many medal haul. She also believes that the men and women’s teams will also do well.
Team SA will be represented in six sporting codes namely Athletics, Archery, Football (men and women), Rugby 7’s (men and women), Swimming, and Tennis. Groenewald explains why the codes were endorsed.
The total South African delegation is estimated to be 167 inclusive of athletes, officials, medical team and support staff.
The respective National University Sports Associations (NUSA’s) began their preparation plans for these games since July last year upon presenting their intention to participate at the games according to Groenewald.
USSA will announce the final team in Pretoria on Thursday. Groenewald says various teams will depart on different days ahead of the games.
She also appealed to the South Africans to support the team during the gruelling games. – Report by Vincent Sitsula
