South Africa will be represented by two gymnasts at this years Tokyo Olympic Games which is set to take place from July 23 till August 8. This comes after Naveen Daries secured her ticket to Tokyo at the 15th Individual African Gymnastics Championships in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday, May 26.
Daries joins fellow star Caitlin Rooskrantz, who had already qualified in 2019. Heading into the championships, Daries shared the mat with her sister Zelme, and fellow teammate Mammule Rankoe. Rooskrantz also travelled with the team to support the girls in their quest to qualify.
Congratulations Naveen?!
??Team SA’s Naveen Daries has snapped up a qualification spot for the Olympic Games?! For the first time ever, we have two Women’s Artistic Gymnasts qualify to go to the Olympics!#GymnasticsSA #AFCH pic.twitter.com/cUYN5hNUCr
— Gymnastics South Africa (@SAGymnastics) May 26, 2021
That feeling when you’ve qualified for the Tokyo Olympics?♀️!
Naveen Daries jumping for joy at the pyramids after yesterdays amazing performance at the African Championships. Go Team SA ??#GymnasticsSA #AFCH @TeamSA2020 pic.twitter.com/kATKo0idaI
— Gymnastics South Africa (@SAGymnastics) May 27, 2021
According to Good Things Guy, the girls competed on all four apparatus’ against strong competitors from Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroon. However, following a strongly contested battle, Daries and Zeina Sharaf from Egypt walked away with the coveted two Olympic qualification spots.
Donny Jurgens, President of Gymnastics South Africa expressed that the union is extremely proud of the Women’s Team.
“All their hard work over many years is finally seeing the results. We can’t wait to see them on the Olympic stage in July following the Egyptian World Challenge Cup next week, “Jurgens said.
The results of the Championships see South African Women’s Gymnastics qualify two gymnasts for the first time to the Olympics Games. This will also be the first time since 2004 that Women’s Gymnastics will see South Africa at the Olympics, as per News24.
Picture: Twitter/Gymnastics South Africa