COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2002
More medals for Team SA
Brad Morgan
1 August 2002
Disabled swimmer Natalie du Toit became the toast of the SA Commonwealth Games team when she won the country's first gold medal in the swimming pool in Manchester. After setting a world record 29.53 seconds in the 50 metres freestyle in qualifying, she claimed the gold in 29.68 seconds, also well within the previous world record.
"It's been an amazing day, a real high", said Du Toit, who next competes in the 800 metres open freestyle race against able-bodied swimmers.
There was further success for South Africa in the pool when Sarah Poewe took silver in the 50 metres breaststroke. England's Zoe Baker, who set a world record in the semi-finals, was a comfortable winner of the gold.
Gerhard Zandberg won bronze in the men's 50 metres backstroke to lift South Africa's medal haul in the pool to four after the men's four-by-100 relay team picked up a silver medal on the first day of competition.
Mandy Loots finished fifth in the final of
the 50 metres butterfly, won by Australian Petria Thomas in a Commonwealth Games record 26.66 seconds. In qualifying for others events, Roland Schoeman recorded the second-best time for the men's 50 metres butterfly of 23.99, while Helene Muller was third-quickest in the 100 metres freestyle with a time of 56.06.
Two swimmers qualified for the final of the men's 100 metres breaststroke. Brett Peterson was fifth-fastest in 1:02.33, while Terence Parkin was sixth-fastest in 1:02.62.
Track and field
In track and field, Janus Robberts won silver in the men's shot putt, throwing 19.97 metres to finish second to Australian Justin Anlezark, who threw 20.91 metres for a Commonwealth record. Robberts' effort was two metres off his personal best.
Rory Field, competing in the 100 metres for the visually impaired, completed South Africa's athletics medal haul with a bronze. Only Australia and England topped South Africa in athletics
medals.
Bowls
The men's fours bowls team captured silver after going down 22-8 to England in the final of the competition in testing rainy conditions. Earlier in the day, the foursome - Neil Burkett, Kevin Campbell, Theuns Fraser and Duanne Abrahams - defeated Wales 16-13 to qualify for the gold medal match.
The result left Burkett with a complete collection of Commonwealth medals. In 1994 in Victoria he won gold and in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur he won bronze. SA team manager Lewis Klopper praised England's effort afterwards, saying: "They were absolutely superb. Man-for-man, the whole team played brilliantly. They deserve their gold medal."
Boxing
Two more medals are guaranteed to come South Africa's way after two boxers qualified for the semi-finals in their weight categories. Welterweight Kwanele Zulu scored an impressive second-round knockout victory over Scot Colin McNeal, while flyweight Lubago
Msutu outpointed Martin Mubiru 48-35.
Two boxers lost, however. Pumzile Mathyila, a bronze medal winner four years ago, went down 14-11 to Nigeria's Taored Ajagbet, while Khotso Motau, competing in the light-middleweight class, was edged 16-13 by Craig McEwan of Scotland.
Hockey
Greg Nicol's hockey team pulled off a big win in the cross-pool playoffs, upsetting England 1-0 to qualify for the semi-finals. Greg Clark set up the win for the South Africans, robbing an England defender and setting up the move that eventually saw Emile Smith score the all-important goal.
"We've had some close ones against England in the past and today was our lucky day. Any other day it could have gone the other way", said a happy South African captain Nicol afterwards. England won bronze in Kuala Lumpur and are ranked seventh in the world.
The South African women's hockey team managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when they let slip
a three-nil half time lead to lose four-three to India. Pietie Coetzee, with two goals, and Jenny Wilson with a third put South Africa comfortably ahead, but India fought back to level the match and then won it in extra time with a golden goal. The defeat leaves Lindsay Carlisle’s team facing Scotland in the playoff for fifth and sixth places.
Netball, judo
The women's netball team was again beaten, as hosts England, ranked third in the world, recorded a 55-40 win. The English will next face world number one Australia in the semi-finals. South Africa will face Wales in the playoff for fifth and sixth positions.
South Africans tasted defeat in judo when both Francois French and Henriette Moller were eliminated from the competition. French opened with a win over Kenya's Hezron Manani, but then lost to Welshman Luke Preston. Moller, meanwhile, was beaten twice, losing to Claire Scourfield of Wales and Karen Roberts of England.
Medals table
To date, South Africa lies fifth on the overall medals table with 19 in total, made up of six golds, seven silvers and six bronzes. Australia tops the standings with 109 medals, including 41 golds, followed by England with 85 in total, including 19 golds. Canada is in third with 66 medals and 19 golds, while India occupies fourth position with 38 medals, including 14 golds.
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