SASAPD president congratulates Commonwealth Games athletes

The president of the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD), Jean Miggels, has congratulated those para-athletes who have been selected to represent Team SA at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Team SA's squad for the 2026 edition of the Games were announced on Wednesday night. The Games are comprised of 10 sports, including six fully integrated para-sports, and take place from 23rd July to 2nd August.

There are seven para-athletes in the squad and four para-swimmers, which has delighted Miggels.

“The utmost congratulations go out to those 11 Team SA members who have competed under the SASAPD umbrella and it’s such a wonderful opportunity for them to perform at Commonwealth Games level.

“In March we saw the likes of Liezel Gouws, Sheryl James, Yane van der Merwe, Collen Mahlalela and Masaka Makatu at the Toyota SASAPD National Championships in Coetzenburg and it was there that they qualified for selection to Glasgow.

“On behalf of SASAPD we are delighted to see them represented on one of the biggest stages in multi-code sport and it further shows the quality of athlete that attends the Toyota SASAPD Nationals. We wish them all the very best as they fly the flag for disabled sport in South Africa on this big global stage.”

The seven Team SA para-athletes selected for the Commonwealth Games are: Jaco Smit (T12 100m), Collen Mahlalela (T47 100m, Masala Makatu (T12 100m), Nicolaas Strydom (F57 shot put), Sheryl James (T37/T38 100m, T37/T38 200m), Liezel Gouws (T37/T38 200m, T37/T38 long jump) and Yane van der Merwe (F42-44/F61-F64 discus).

The four Team SA para-swimmers are: Christian Sadie (S7 50m freestyle, SB9 100m breaststroke), Nathan Hendricks (S13 50m freestyle, S13 100m freestyle), Danika Vyncke (S13 50m freestyle, S13 100m freestyle), and Alani Ferreira S13 50m freestyle, S13 100m freestyle).