Commonwealth Games

Namibia was thrust in the spotlight on Friday when the Queen’s Baton, to promote the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, arrived in Windhoek.

The Namibian leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay formed part of a worldwide relay which started at Buckingham Palace on March 8, and is scheduled to reach its conclusion on October 3, when the Queen’s Baton will arrive in New Delhi and her message will be read to the athletes during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

The Namibian National Olympic Committee has prepared an exciting programme to coincide with the arrival of the Queen’s Baton 2010 Delhi in Namibia on Thursday. The Queen’s Baton will arrive in Namibia from Botswana, as part of a tour that will take it through 71 Commonwealth destinations before arriving in Delhi for the start of the Commonwealth Games in October.

NNOC executive committee member Ndeulipulwa Hamutumwa said that many local festivities had been planned for the arrival of the Queen’s Baton in Namibia.

A Namibian team of 13 athletes will participate at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India from October 12 to 18.
It is the third Commonwealth Youth Games for athletes Under 19, following previous events in Scotland and Australia, and will be the first time that Namibia will be represented at the Games.

Namibian cyclists delivered their best road race results ever at the Commonwealth Games on March 26, as Dan Craven stayed in contact with the peleton right to the end to finish in 17th position, just 44 seconds behind the winner, Mathew Hayman of Australia.

Namibian athletes were largely inactive at the Commonwealth Games on March 24.
In the Menâ??s Singles bowls competition, Namibiaâ??s Douw Calitz lost 2-1 to Neil Tall of Norfolk Island.
Tall won the match 8-10, 11-5 and 2-1).

Japhet Uutoni kept Namibiaâ??s flag flying high with a superb performance at the Commonwealth Games on March 23, 2006.
The 20-year-old Uutoni qualified for the final of the light flyweight category when he convincingly beat Simanga Shiba of Swaziland in their semifinal bout.

By Patrick de Goede â?? Team manager

Since their arrival in Melbourne, Australia, a week ago the Namibian cyclists have been hard at work. After the initial shock of jet lag from the long flight east, both riders and officials set about getting settled in at the athlete's village. After three days of non-stop travelling it was comforting to get into some sort of routine, particularly with regard to training.

Namibia received its first medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games when Friedhelm Sack came third in the 10m Air Pistol event in Melbourne on March 22.
After several days of mixed results in various pistol events, Friedhelm made it to the final in the 10m Air Pistol competition, after posting the third highest score in the qualifying round.

Friedhelm Sack won Namibiaâ??s first medal at the Commonwealth Games when he came third in the Menâ??s 50m Pistol event on March 21, 2006.
Samaresh Jung of India won the event with a total of 554 points, followed by Mick Gault of England (552) and Sack with 546 points.

Namibian lightweight boxer Jatoorora Tjingaveteâ??s run finally ended at the Commonwealth Games when he was eliminated in the quarterfinals on March 20, 2006.
Tjingavete was convincingly beaten by Giovanni Frantin of Mauritius, going down 24-5 on points over four rounds.