Henry Murray win Danhiko Games Danhiko Paralympic Games Patron Dr Amai Grace Mugabe shares a lighter moment with some of the children during the official opening of the annual games on Saturday. - (Picture by Believe Nyakudjara)
Danhiko Paralympic Games Patron Dr Amai Grace Mugabe shares a lighter moment with some of the children during the official opening of the annual games on Saturday. - (Picture by Believe Nyakudjara)

Danhiko Paralympic Games Patron Dr Amai Grace Mugabe shares a lighter moment with some of the children during the official opening of the annual games on Saturday. – (Picture by Believe Nyakudjara)

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
HENRY Murray from Masvingo emerged as the overall winners of this year’s Danhiko Annual Paralympic Games which ended yesterday in Harare. The three-day event, which started last Friday, had 115 clubs taking part in athletics, goal ball, wheelchair basketball, soccer for the visually impaired, mentally handicapped and hearing impaired, netball, five-a-side soccer, slalom, wheelchair tennis and swimming.

Henry Murray accumulated 133 points to clinch the title that was previously held by Copota High from the same province. For their efforts they walked away with US$400.

On second position was Jairos Jiri Kadoma with 126 points and they got US$250, followed by Muzarabani Paralympic Club with 112 points and they received US$150.

Henry Murray had 52 participants competing in athletics, soccer and netball; and they amassed 45 medals.

Their sports director, Tabe Ngwarai, said they are happy with the improvement their team has made after failing to leave a mark at last year’s competition.

“As a team this is a great achievement compared to last year’s performance. We didn’t do well although I have forgotten our overall position.

“There is great improvement especially from the coaches, they did wonders because I was not expecting such a performance as the sports director. So generally it was a good show by our team. We are expecting to maintain our position next year,” said Ngwarai.

Muzarabani Paralympic Club general manager Darlington Sithole was also impressed with their results after fielding a team of 27 athletes.

“The team did very well. We had 27 athletes and we have come this far. Last year we were number four, so I think we are the most improved club.

“We got 34 medals from athletics, we didn’t compete in team events. We had athletes back home but we could not register them because of financial challenges,” Sithole said.

The Games were officially closed by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhosini Hlongwane, who was the guest of honour.

Hlongwane paid tribute to the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe for her continued support for the Games over the years.

“In the last three days over 100 teams or clubs have gathered here at Danhiko Centre to engage in various sporting disciplines.

“Indeed it has been a feast of the eyes for some, a feast of the ears for some and yesterday it was the climax of it all when we hosted Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Grace Mugabe, who is the patron of the Games as indeed she is the patron of the centre.

“I want to start with extending my thanks to the First Lady not just for being present at yesterday’s (Saturday) official opening of the Games but for continuously supporting the Games as well as supporting the centre in terms of improvements in the infrastructure,” said Hlongwane.

Hlongwane said they are happy with the Games as they present a platform for athletes to prepare for bigger events such as the National Paralympic Games.

“At the Ministry of Sport and Recreation we take the Danhiko Games very seriously as one platform for participation, as preparation for admission into the high performance sector. This of course is a big preparation for the Zimbabwe National Paralympic Games, which are bigger than the Danhiko Games.

“But they are structured more or less in the same way and we know that the participants that have participated in these Games have sharpened their skills in preparation for the next edition of the Zimbabwe National Paralympic Games.

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