Copota Danhiko champs

athletics, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, football, goal ball and slalom.
Copota dominated most of the events and accumulated 334 points to come first. They clinched gold medals in the visually impaired goal ball seniors and visually impaired soccer seniors. They also got a silver medal in the junior women’s goal ball behind Murehwa Junior. For their efforts they walked away with US$400.
Team manager, Mildred Baye was impressed with the teams performance.
“We are so delighted. The competition as fair and next time we want to try and scoop gold medals only, we do not want any silver or bronze,” said Baye.
National Rehabilitation Centre were second with 246 points and they got US$250 and last year’s winners Jairos Jiri Kadoma settled for third position with 218 points and they pocketed US$150. Speaking during the official closing ceremony, deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Monica Mutsvangwa paid tribute to the First Lady race Mugabe who is also the patron of the Games.
“We are gathered here to celebrate our abilities of sports. I am sure that apart from sport you have got the chance to socialising and meeting people from different parts of the country and making friends.
“Sports is good because whilst it sharpens your mind it gives you the chance to socialise and make friends,” said Mutsvangwa.
The deputy Minster said by just participating in the Games everyone is a winner.
“Recently we were watching the Paralympic Games in London where they were emphasising that by participating we are all winners, just participating we have won.
“The theme for the 24th edition of the Danhiko Annual Paralympic Games is ‘We are all able’, so whilst I congratulate the winners I want to pay tribute to the unsuccessful one for having have the courage to participate and say by participating we are all winners and we are able,” said Mutsvangwa.
The Danhiko Annual Paralympic Games which for the past years have been held over two days were this year extended to four day with all teams arriving in Harare on Thursday in an effort to accommodate all the athletes and completing competition in all disciplines as the number of participants continue to increase.