Check out the sport bites from Issue 5.
UPlympics hosts indigenous games
On 26 April, field events at the UPlympics included indigenous games, namely skipping rope and diketo an interesting first in UP history. Students began by warming up, skipping ropes, and stretching. While diketo was familiar to some, it was a challenging game for most students, but they were eager to learn. The incorporation of indigenous games served to include all students in the UPlympics, even those who do not possess athletic abilities. Students were required to at least skip a rope or play diketo for three minutes against each other.
Tuks quad wheelchair tennisplayers bag silver at WorldTeam Cup
Tuks tennis player Donald Ramphadi participated at the 2022 BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Portugal, from 2 to 8 May. 44 teams from 22 countries took part in the wheelchair tennis event, with South Africa making the quad finals for the first time in the competition’s history. However, Donald Ramphadi was ultimately defeated by the Netherland’s player Niels Vink with a final score of 2-0.
Hockey players selected for Spain
Four UP-Tuks hockey players have been selected to represent South Africa in the 2022 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup, held from 1 to 17 July in the Netherlands and Spain. The players include: Edith Molikoe, Hanrie Louw, Jean-Leigh du Toit and Onthatile Zulu.
UP takes gold at USSA Athletics championship
The USSA Athletics Championships where hosted by the University of the Western Cape from 5 to 7 May. UP took first place overall at the USSA Championships winning a total of 30 medals – 12 gold, 8 silver and 10 bronze. UP athletes who took gold at the championship include: Benjamin Richardson (100 m), Bradley Olifant (200m), Jovan van Vuuren (long jump), Zeney van der Walt (400m), Chane Swart (800m and 1500m) and Taylon Bieldt (100m-hurdles and 400m-hurdles). The TuksAthletics women’s relay team, consisting of Charne Swart, Simone de Wet, Marlie Viljoen, and Zeney van der Walt, also won gold during the 4*400 relay final.
Cora Mak qualifies for chess World Championship
Chess player, Cora Mak, has qualified for the 2022 FISU World University Championship Mind Sport Chess and Bridge, set to take place in September in Belgium. This follows her participation in the USSA Chess Closed Tournament where she took fourth place with a total of 4.5 points.