All-Africa Games 2015 - National Assembly congratulates medallists |16 September 2015
Seychellois medallists at the ongoing 11th All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville have been congratulated by members of the National Assembly during yesterday’s first sitting for the third term.
Seychelles has made history by so far collecting four gold medals and the fourth coming on Monday night through female high jumper Lissa Labiche. Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton told the members that “the results speak for themselves”.
Minister Meriton was in the National Assembly for question time and one of the questions focused on government spending in sports development in Seychelles at district level, the budget allocated to the 31 sports federations by the National Sports Council (NSC) and the performance of athletes.
Giving a brief summary of the results, Minister Meriton congratulated the three female athletes who have won Seychelles four gold medals in three disciplines – athletics, badminton and weightlifting. The country’s team have so far also won three silver and five bronze medals.
Female weightlifter Ruby Malvina competed in the 58kg category, lifting a total 189kg (80kg in snatch and 109kg in clean & jerk) to win two gold medals and one silver. The other two gold medals were won by badminton players Alisen Camille and Juliette Ah-Wan in the women’s doubles and high jumper Lissa Labiche who cleared the bar at 1.91m.
Female weightlifter Clementina Agricole claimed a silver medal in clean & jerk (115kg) and two bronze in snatch (91kg) and total (206kg) in the 63kg division.
Boxer Keddy Agnes took the +91kg weight category silver medal after losing 0-3 in the final to Nigerian Efe Ajagba.
The Seychelles mixed team of Juliette Ah-Wan, Cynthia Course, Alisen Camille, Steve Malcouzane, Georgie Cupidon and Kervin Ghislain finished third for the bronze medal in the team event won by Mauritius, while Georgie Cupidon and Juliette Ah-wan teamed up to win the other bronze in the mixed doubles event.
Swimmer Alexus Laird has also won a bronze medal in the 50m backstroke, clocking 30.07 seconds.
“After the Indian Ocean Island Games, just a few weeks back, the athletes instead of giving up have fought harder at the All-Africa Games to bring back some glory to Seychelles. Many thought Seychelles had been done with after the IOIG, but our athletes have proven them wrong,” Minister Meriton said.
As of yesterday, Minister Meriton said Seychelles was ahead of Mauritius with 12 medals.
The athletes’ achievements were applauded by members of the National Assembly.
Minister Meriton said the good results stem from the investment made over the years through sports development at district level, whereby sports teams which fall under the districts received R1.3 million last year and R1.5 million this year. The 31 sports federations and associations registered with the NSC obtained R3.1 million in 2014 and R3.2 million this year. Over and above R30 million have been spent in the preparations of athletes for IOIG and for the monetary rewards offered. The government has spent over R4 million as preparations for the All-Africa Games.
National Assembly Speaker Dr Patrick Herminie has also congratulated the ministry for the remarkable results at the Games, saying we “have seen the smallest country in Africa competing and winning against the giants of Africa”.
Both the leader of government business and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Marie-Antoinette Rose and David Pierre respectively expressed their appreciation for the good performances and have shown their support for the athletes and coaches.