COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2002
Kruger gold for South Africa
Brad Morgan
29 July 2002
South Africa claimed its first gold of the Commonwealth Games when Frantz Kruger dominated the discus competition to claim the win with a Games record throw of 66.39 metres. Kruger consistently threw close to that distance to easily leave his opponents trailing in his wake. He previously won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
"I'm thrilled. It's just wonderful to have won our first gold. I just hope it sparks off something in the team and generates more medals," said the Bloemfontein medical student.
Twenty-two year old Veronica Abrahamse, third in Kuala Lumpur, repeated that showing in the women's shot putt, to win South Africa's second medal. Abrahamse threw 16.77 metres to finish behind Nigeria's Vivian Chukwuemeka (17.53) and New Zealand's Valerie Adams (17.45). "I'm still young enough for 2006 to go for gold in Melbourne," declared Abrahamse afterwards.
In other athletics events Heide Seyerling finished fifth in
the final of the women's 400 metres. Guyana's Alian Pompey won in 51.63 seconds. Morne Nagel qualified for the semi-finals of the 200 metres despite a terrible start and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi won his 800 metres semi-final to qualify for the final where he is a definite medal prospect. Josiah Bembe finished eighth in the men's marathon, while Joseph Maqala ended in fourteenth position. Tanzania's Francis Naali claimed gold in 2:11:58.
Shooting
South African shooters, who won seven medals four years ago, including a gold, four silvers and a bronze, claimed two silver medals and a bronze over the weekend. David Dodds and Peter Bramley finished second in the full bore rifle pairs, while Michael Thiele and Jaco Henn were runners-up in the 50 metres rifle prone pairs. In the 50 metres pistol pairs, Frikkie and Francois van Tonder - unrelated - won bronze.
The South African men's hockey team, after demolishing Barbados 10-1 in their first outing,
were on the receiving end of a four-one result against Australia, heavily favoured to capture gold.
Boxer Khotso Motau had a convincing win in the light-middleweight category, knocking out England's Matthew Marsh to set up a quarterfinal clash against Uganda's Martin Mubiru.
South Africa's male gymnasts were very successful four years ago, but have not yet picked up a medal in Manchester. Dewald Laubscher finished ninth in the men's individual all-round competition, while Cristian Brezeanu ended in twenty-first place.
Bowls
There was good news for South Africa on the bowls greens were the men's fours team played a superb match to down Scotland 19-7 and finish top of their group. The pairs combination defeated New Zealand 18-10 to claim top spot in their group with a match still left to play. However, South Africa's defending champion women's fours team went down to Northern Ireland, losing 18-10.
The bowls competition
features the top teams in the world, in many ways a battle for supremacy in world bowls, and South Africa is hoping to emulate its performance of four years ago in Kuala Lumpur when it emerged as the top team.
The Netball team defeated Barbados 56-37 after struggling to break clear of their less-fancied opponents early on.
After the weekend’s competition, Australia tops the medal table, followed by England, Canada, India, Kenya, Jamaica and South Africa.
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