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LET THE GAMES BEGIN. . .Patrick Sherpard of Muzarabani Paralympic Club (in front) outpaced fellow teammate Tafadzwa Nyamupedza (in yellow) to win the boys 15 to 17 years 400m event at Danhiko yesterday.

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Danhiko Annual Paralympic Games roared into life yesterday with 115 clubs from across the country turning up for the event. The Games will run until tomorrow with around 2 300 athletes competing in athletics, goal ball, wheelchair basketball, netball, soccer, five-a-side soccer, wheelchair tennis, slalom and swimming.

The First Lady, Dr Amai Grace Mugabe, who is the patron of the Games, is expected to officially open the Games today. Some of the disciplines that started their events yesterday include athletics and in the boys 15 to 17 years 400m visually impaired Muzarabani Paralympic Club dominated the event with Patrick Sherpard coming first.

He was followed by teammate Tafadzwa Nyamupedza while Tafadzwa Munyoro came third. The girls race was won by Grace Nyamadzawo of the same club while Jairos Jiri Kadoma’s Argatha Chimbetete was second and Cottnie Simango came third. Danhiko Games organising committee chairperson Godfrey Majonga said they were happy with the turnout and they were looking forward to an exciting event.

“So far the number of teams that have arrived are 115 including the team from Botswana which arrived last night. “The competition itself, which kicked off this morning, started off very well. So we are very happy with the beginning so far and we are grateful to our sponsors who have come in big time, particularly Minister of Sport and Recreation, Honourable Makhosini Hlongwane.

“The teams have responded very well, although the harsh economic conditions have meant that we may be four or five clubs less than last year. Last year we had 120 clubs and 2 475 participants.

“The competition has gone up like in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. The coaching clinic which was conducted by our Japanese friends from the Japan Paralympic Committee really has meant that the standard of those two sporting disciplines has gone up to spirited competition particularly those two (disciplines),” said Majonga.

Majonga said although they have lost some of their traditional sponsors because of the economic situations they have found new partners who have come on board such as Econet Wireless, National Aids Council and Hamilton In- surance. “We also this year have lost some partners due to the current economic conditions but we have also found new partners who have come on board this year among this National Aids Council, Hamilton Insurance and Econet Wireless.

“So we are very happy and we look forward to these new partners who have come on board staying with us for long into the future,” Majonga said. Copota High from Masvingo are the defending champions after finishing on top of the table with 189 points and will be hoping to retain the title.