Tokyo Olympics: Team SA squad swells by 34 more athletes

A further 34 athletes were officially added to Team SA’s squad on Saturday for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan.

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The overall squad now sits at 167 with an additional 10-15 expected to be named in the coming week.

Saturday’s announcement was the third made by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) following previous announcements in May and June.

Representatives across six codes were added to the team and these included: gymnastics, golf, equestrian, judo, aquatics (diving and open water swimming) and football men.

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Acting CEO of SASCOC, Ravi Govender, was delighted that the team is almost complete.

“I believe the team is a blend of both experienced and new talent with many team members having worn the green and gold of Team South Africa at previous Olympic Games,” he said. 

“We get excited each time we receive notification of a selection. Our athletes have risen above the onslaught of Covid. This is real, it’s happening and we applaud our athletes.”

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The rowing team has already departed for Tokyo to have a pre-Games camp and the rest of the team will be departing from South African shores in a staggered manner from 12 July.

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LATEST NAMES ADDED TO TEAM SA SQUAD:

GYMNASTICS

Naveen Daries

Coach and management: Leeland Christian

GOLF

Garrick Higgo, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Ashleigh Buhai

Coaches, management and caddy: Tanya Paterson (caddy), Johan Swanepoel (caddy), Nick Cavendish-Pell (caddy), Joanne Newell (Manager)

EQUESTRIAN

Tanya Seymour, Victoria Legendre-Scott

Coaches and management: Ingeborg Sanne, Rudolphe Scherer, Colin Scott

JUDO

Geronay Whitebooi

Coach and management: Nikola Filipov

AQUATICS – DIVING AND OPEN WATER SWIMMING

Michelle Weber, Michael McGlynn, Julia Vincent, Micaela Bouter

Coaches and management: Wayne Riddin, Cedric Finch, William Sherritt

FOOTBALL MEN

Ronwen Williams, Mondli Mpoto, Sifiso Mlungwana, Tercious Malepe, Luke Fleurs, Sibusiso Mabiliso, Abbubaker Mobara, Thabiso Monyane, Katlego Mohamme, Teboho Mokoena, Thabo Cele, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Sipho Mbule, Goodman Mosele, Kamohelo Mahlatsi, Fagrie Lakay, Luther Singh, Evidence Makgopa, Lyle Foster, Kobamelo Kodisang

Coaches and management: Mxolisi Sibam, David Notoane, Kwanele Kopo, Wendell Robinson, Nomthandazo Ncube