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27 July 2018
Tennis the bright spark at USSA
The Kovsie Tennis team was crowned as USSA victors for the eighth consecutive time at the recent University Sports South Africa tournament

Even though some Kovsie sport codes came close, it was eventually only the tennis team who were able to grab hold of a gold medal at the various USSA (University Sport South Africa) tournaments taking place in numerous cities across the country during the student winter holidays.

It was the eighth consecutive USSA crown for the Kovsie tennis team. They won all their matches with ease and even the final against Tuks was a one-way affair, winning eight games to one.

The other sport that came close to winning their tournament, was the netball girls. They came unstacked in the final, losing 30-48 to Tuks. It was the first time since 1998 that Kovsies hosted the USSA netball tournament.

The Kovsie female hockey team claimed third spot and the men, playing in the B section, ended second. They only lost once (against the University of KwaZulu-Natal by a single goal), which denied them promotion to the A section.

The Shimlas nearly obtained bronze, but a penalty try for Wits in the closing minutes cost them in the play-off match for 3rd/4th position.

Both the men and women’s football teams ended sixth, but more importantly, the women qualified for the 2019 Varsity football competition. The women improved by two positions and the men by four places from the 2017 tournament.

The table tennis team didn’t have an official final position. They lost in the quarterfinals.

The basketball men ended ninth and the women tenth, improving by ten and six places respectively.

The volleyball men’s team finished in 11th position and the women took 15th spot.

News Archive

Two from UFS heading for Rio
2016-07-18

Description: Rynhardt_Rio Tags: Rynhardt_Rio

The 800 m athlete from the University of the
Free State, Rynhardt van Rensburg, will soon
take part in his first Olympic Games in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Photo: Varsity Sports / Wessel Oosthuizen

It is the cherry on top for any sportsman or sportswoman. This is what DB Prinsloo, Director of KovsieSport, has to say about two athletes from the University of the Free State (UFS) being included in the South African team for the Olympic Games.

He says the officials and coaches at KovsieSport are extremely proud of Rynhardt van Rensburg (800 m) and Wayde van Niekerk (400 m). Although they qualified earlier, their names were read out on 14 July 2016 as part of the team of 137 athletes that will participate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August.

In the footsteps of other UFS stars

They follow in the footsteps of former Kovsies like Leslé-Ann George (women’s hockey), Kate Roberts (triathlon), Johan Cronjé (1 500 m), and Frantz Kruger (discus), who represented South Africa at previous Olympics. Apart from these two, four former Kovsies were also included in the team for Rio. They are the Sevens Springbok Philip Snyman, Sevens coach Neil Powell, Chris Dednam as badminton coach and Roberts as team manager of the triathletes. Dednam also competed as a player at the Olympics. Ans Botha, the UFS sprint coach, will also accompany Van Niekerk.

“It is a highlight for any sportsman or sportswoman to be part of the Olympic Games. It is, for example, the same as it is for others to participate in a World Cup,” says Prinsloo.

Description: Wayde2_Rio Tags: Wayde2_Rio

Wayde van Niekerk

Van Niekerk shows mettle on birthday

Prinsloo is very happy for Van Rensburg, since the 24-year-old athlete has been injured for a long time and had to regain his form. On 24 June 2016, he won a bronze medal at the African Championships in Durban in a time of 1:46.15.

Prinsloo feels that Van Niekerk and Caster Semenya (800 m) are great contenders for medals in Rio. Van Niekerk, who celebrated his 24th birthday on 15 July 2016, continued his good preparation for the Olympics by trouncing his rivals on his birthday at a Diamond League event in Monaco in a time of in 44.12.

 

“It is a highlight for any sportsman or
sportswoman to be part of the Olympic Games.”










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