Latest news with #RioParalympicGames
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
South Africa Olympic doctor bolsters UKZN's sports medicine division
INTERNATIONALLY recognised sports and exercise medicine physician, and former SA Olympic medical officer, Dr Phathokuhle Zondi, has officially started her tenure at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Zondi, who officially started her duties on May 1, was appointed to the School of Clinical Medicine where she has been tasked with strengthening UKZN's current focus areas in research, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and research supervision in the field of sports and exercise medicine. A formidable endurance athlete in her own right, Zondi has completed numerous ultra-marathons, multi-stage cycling races, triathlons, and even summited Mount Kilimanjaro. As she prepares for her journey in academia, Zondi encourages young people to take up the mantle of carving their own path in the field. She said, 'You don't have to have it all figured out from the start — but stay curious, stay committed, and stay kind. Your path may twist and turn, but everything you learn along the way will serve you. Don't let fear of failure hold you back. The world needs your voice, your ideas, and your courage — especially in spaces where people like you haven't always been seen or heard. Whatever you choose to pursue, carry it with intention.' Also Read: UKZN, Durban City FC sign groundbreaking partnership Zondi's career spans over many years and in honour of her service to her country she received a Ministerial Recognition Award in 2017. Zondi brings to UKZN a wealth of experience spanning elite sport, public health, and corporate governance. Her extensive leadership portfolio includes serving as Chief Medical Officer for Team South Africa at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, the 2017 World Games, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. From 2016 to 2024, she chaired the Medical Advisory Commission for the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), overseeing athlete care and clinical standards on the world stage. Her leadership roles include serving as secretary general of the College of Sports and Exercise Medicine South Africa, president of the South African Sports Medicine Association (2015–2017), associate editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, and senior medical educator for World Rugby. She is also on the international faculty of the IOC's Advanced Team Physician Course. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Shashruti is India's first amputee swimmer to conquer Palk Strait
1 2 Nagpur: Shashruti Vinayak Nakade added yet another first to her illustrious achievements by becoming India's first amputee swimmer to conquer the Palk Strait — an open sea swimming challenge covering 35km from Sri Lanka's Talaimannar to Tamil Nadu's Dhanushkodi. The 21-year-old from Nagpur took 11 hours and 5 minutes to complete the solo swimming challenge alongside para swimmer Ganesh Balaga of Andhra Pradesh. Both Shashruti and Ganesh were part of a group of Indian swimmers from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal, who successfully completed the Palk Strait challenge in solo and relay teams, respectively. All the Indian swimmers participated in the challenge under the leadership of Arjuna Awardee and coach of the Indian para swimming team at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, Prasanta Karmakar. Born and raised in Nagpur, Shashruti completed her schooling at St Xavier's and Kendriya Vidyalaya, and is currently in her final year at Hislop College. In 2022, she represented India at the Asian Para Games and last year narrowly missed qualification in the triathlon event for the Paralympic Games.
