Latest news with #SAChampionships
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Jo-Lee's power punch earns Gauteng call-up
Jo-Lee van Tonder, a young boxer from Vikings Boxing Academy, has been selected to represent Gauteng at the upcoming South African Championships. • Also read: Vikings Boxing Club ready to conquer the West Rand Public Relations Officer at the club, Simoné Louw, stated that this is a significant milestone in Jo-Lee's sporting journey and a proud moment for the club. 'Jo-Lee Tonder began boxing at the age of 12 and was initially drawn to the sport as a means of self-defence after experiencing bullying, where she quickly developed a passion for the discipline and competitiveness that boxing demands,' Simoné said. Jo-Lee added that what started out as self-defence quickly evolved into something she loved. She wasn't just pursuing fitness, she was building a stronger version of herself. Jo-Lee works full-time and trains after hours. Boxing has become a permanent part of her life. 'Training has become such a natural part of my routine that it doesn't feel like something I have to fit in anymore. When I miss a session, it feels like something's missing,' she explained. She describes herself as a strategic counter-boxer who relies more on precision and timing than brute strength. My mindset is my strongest weapon. I stay calm and focused under pressure, which helps me make smart decisions in the ring,' she added. Simoné continued that her selection to the Gauteng team is not just a personal victory but a moment of pride for her coach and the club as a whole. Coach Phillip du Randt, head coach at Vikings Boxing Academy, spoke highly of her character and work ethic. 'Jo-Lee sets herself apart with her winning attitude and personality. She never complains, and she always rises to the challenge. She's a beast that puts a lot of other people in the backseat,' he believes. Phillip also noted the broader impact of her selection to the Gauteng team, which opens doors for more female boxers, not just at club level but also provincially and nationally, making the club proud. Jo-Lee acknowledged that she has faced her fair share of stereotyping in the sport. People often say I'm too petite or pretty to be a boxer, but that's exactly why I keep showing up. You don't have to look a certain way to be strong,' she asserted. She stated that her training in preparation for the SA Championships includes both physical conditioning and mental preparation, where she is pushing harder than ever and reminding herself of how far she has come. 'Behind every fight are sore muscles, sacrifices and moments of self-doubt. But I've stayed committed,' she said. Phillip believes Jo-Lee has the potential to turn professional, and if she chooses to compete professionally, he foresees only good things ahead, both in boxing and in life. Jo-Lee concluded that she draws inspiration from world champion Katie Taylor and credits her mother as a constant source of strength and support. Her message to other young women considering the sport is clear: do not be afraid to try, as boxing teaches you more than how to fight. It teaches you how to believe in yourself. She is set to compete at the South African Championships at the beginning of July and is currently seeking sponsorship to support her journey. She will be competing in the Women's Elite Bantamweight Category (51kg – 54kg). If you are interested in assisting her, you can contact her coach, Phillip du Randt, on 081 212 9143. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: Athletics SA needs to be reasonable with its selection criteria
Many athletes ignored ASA's requirement to compete at two Grand Prix meetings on the domestic circuit this year, in order to be selected for national teams. Middle-distance runners in action at the Cape Milers Club meeting in Cape Town, one of three ASA Grand Prix events held this year. Picture: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images Criteria is obviously important when selecting a team in any sport, but that criteria also needs to be reasonable. In track and field, it's standard for the national federation to require athletes to compete at the SA Championships, which makes sense. Athletics South Africa (ASA) do offer exemptions for individuals who are ill, injured or not based in South Africa, so it's not an unreasonable request. In some ways this season, ASA has offered athletes more leeway than usual. In other ways, however, the federation has been too pushy. Though they are not injured or ill, and they're all based in South Africa, four of the country's best athletes – sprinters Akani Simbine and Lythe Pillay, hurdler Marione Fourie and javelin thrower Jo-Ane du Plessis – have seemingly been given exemptions from competing at the SA Championships in Potchefstroom this week, in order to participate at the opening leg of the Diamond League series in China. And this is a good move. Any professional athletes who are invited to Diamond League meetings should be allowed to go, in order to represent South Africa in a series that is considered the pinnacle of the sport outside major global championships, and to make some decent money in the process. Grand Prix meetings However, the ASA criteria this year also requires athletes to compete at two local Grand Prix meetings. This is unreasonable. South African athletes are not contracted to ASA, and it's unfair to force them to compete at domestic meetings outside the SA Championships, especially when they can't earn much in terms of prize money. In response, most of the country's top athletes ignored that clause, opting not to abide by it, which has left ASA in a sticky situation. If the federation enforces the rule, it will have to select a very small, under-strength team for the World Championships in Tokyo later this year. So by ignoring an unreasonable demand, the athletes have forced the federation into a corner Refusing not to be bullied, the athletes made the right decision, and ASA must now scratch that clause in its criteria, which shouldn't have been included in the first place.
