Latest news with #SAChampionship
The Citizen
01-08-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Big league global Padel event comes to SA
The South African Invitational is being billed as the largest professional Padel event on the continent to date. Padel fans are in for a treat next month. International court stars head to the Wanderers Stadium to showcase the growing sport. The hybrid game between tennis and squash keeps gaining momentum locally as courts, enthusiasts and clubs multiply annually. Twelve professionally ranked players from Spain and Argentina will be taking to a purpose-built court at the cricket ground. The South African Invitational takes place between 15 and 17 August. Headliners include Padel pros Agustín Tapia, Arturo Coello, Juan Lebrón, Ale Galán and Fernando Belasteguín. The format matches the lifestyle element of the game, and the matches will be team-based. The three-day event also promises a full-scale fan experience. It's complete with matches, local talent, activations, meet-and-greets, live DJs, and food stalls. 'This isn't just about sport. It's a celebration of Padel in a format that's never been seen before in South Africa,' organisers said. A first for South African Padel According to Mohammed Saloojee of the South African Invitational, timing was everything. 'We believe that the time is right. The opportunity to bring these players to South Africa was not one we could pass up,' he said. 'Understanding the global Padel landscape, the busy international calendar, and a host of big money events coming up all over the place meant that if we didn't take the opportunity now, it would be unaffordable next year.' Also Read: Trending: We're hooked on Padel The team-based format is not unfamiliar to pro players, but it's expected to offer something fresh for local fans, said Saloojee. 'All of our leagues that have been run in South Africa are team-based, so we know the excitement that it creates. We believe fans worldwide are going to be enthralled, especially wanting to see how unlikely combinations or never-to-be-seen-again pairs play together.' The South African Invitational is being billed as the largest professional Padel event on the continent to date. 'The only other high-profile international Padel event in Africa is the New Giza P2 in Egypt, and even that doesn't always guarantee the best players sign up. So, this event is a landmark. It puts the African continent into focus, signalling that Padel is healthy and prospering in Africa.' It's the largest Padel event in Africa Efforts to grow the game at home are woven into the event. Each day will kick off with the SA Championship, a national tournament featuring 24 of the country's top players. The local final will play out on Sunday between the international fixtures. 'It gives our local players the opportunity to rub shoulders with the international stars, share a change room. Also, to learn as much as they can from these players,' Saloojee said. 'Our dream is to produce the talent in SA that can compete with the best in the world.' The tournament is intended to spark greater Padel momentum. 'We believe that this is the start of something bigger. This event is almost like our audition,' said Saloojee. 'We need the public to come out and support it. We want to make this a truly unforgettable experience. And to signal to the world that South Africa, and Africa, is ready to host the best that Padel has to offer.' Tickets are available through the Ticketpro website. Now Read: The world's fastest-growing sport has arrived – Meet Padel!
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
South Africa's Erin Lazarus wins silver at Commonwealth Billiard Games
Erin Lazarus, 21, was narrowly edged out in the final of Blackball competition at the Commonwealth Billiard Games which concluded in Mauritius this week. Image: Shelley Kjonstad/Independent Newspapers SOUTH Africa's reigning ladies Blackball champion Erin Lazarus narrowly missed out on pocketing the Commonwealth title in Mauritius this week. Lazarus 21, lost in the final of the Blackball discipline at Commonwealth Billiard Games played in Balaclava, a competition that was played under the auspices of the World Pool Association. She delivered another gutsy performance after falling behind in the final against Malaysia's Klaudia Djajalie, and just when it seemed like she was clawing her way back to draw level on the number of frames won, time had run out. Djajalie, a seasoned campaigner, held on for a 4-3 win and Lazarus had to be content with the silver medal. 'Things didn't go my way in the final. With a bit more luck, it might have, but I'm very proud to have won a silver medal for my country. 'It was a great honour to get to the final, considering that I was almost dead and buried in my semi-final match,' said Lazarus Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The event drew participation from 36 Commonwealth countries, and the other disciplines included were 10-Ball Pool, Heyball and Snooker. To qualify for a shot at the respective disciplines in this competition, participants needed to be crowned national champs in their homelands. Lazarus earned her entry by winning the SA Championship played in Durban during March. The Balaclava tournament was only the second major event that Lazarus had entered in 2025 and progressed with ease to the semi-final stage. Her opponent was Uganda's Kisakye Marion, who raced to a 4-1 lead, with 30 minutes of the contest to play. Having built a formidable lead, Marion changed tactics as she looked to run down the clock by playing more defensive shots and stifle Lazarus' comeback attempt. But Lazarus was not to be denied, she levelled at 4-4 and eventually won 5-4 before the time expired. 'That win gave me a huge confidence boost, going into the final. I was in a virtually hopeless situation.' In the final, Lazarus said she was 'cueing the ball better, my thinking processes were better and I was potting better'. 'In every frame, I was in the hunt, but something went wrong each time in the closing stages,' she said. She fell behind 3-1 and then 4-2 and managed to get the frame score to 4-3 before the contest ended. 'It was disappointing to lose in the final, and it is unlike me to lose in such circumstances. My performance has given me belief that I have the ability to win this competition sometime in the future. 'I'm grateful to my parents (Ian and Cassandra) who were with me in Mauritius and the support I got from my teammates. I also appreciate the administrators from Blackball SA who worked behind the scenes to ensure our participation,' she said. DAILY NEWS
The Herald
06-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Local riders excel at MX Nationals at Rover Raceway
Round three of the SA Motocross Championship took place in perfect weather conditions at Rover Motorcycle Club, where the appreciative crowds that had gathered were treated to racing action of the highest calibre. Local riders excelled across the various classes, where in the MX 50cc class, Wian Scheepers finished in 12th position overall, with a second-place finish in the 85cc class for Aiden Retief, with Seth van der Walt finishing in ninth overall. In the MX1 class, Cameron Durow was the best local finisher, claiming eighth overall, followed by Keegan Hickson-Mahoney in ninth. Kyle Townsend had a great day in the MX Senior Support claiming both heat wins to finish first overall with Ty Potgieter in second and Cameron Grobler taking third overall. Craig Kruger unfortunately didn't finish the opening heat but stormed to second place in heat two to secure 12th overall. Royce Griffin continued his dominance in the MX 3 class with wins in both heats and was followed home in third place by Morne Janse van Rensburg, with Shawn Carver in ninth spot overall. The very competitive High School class saw Tristan Durow just missing out on the podium positions, finishing in fourth, followed by Caden Wiese in fifth, with Andre Venter rounding out the top 10 placings. The Herald
