Middle distance runner Finamekeni Hamutenya reached the final of the 800 metre (m) event on Monday after winning heat two of Level A at the 2023 Berlin Special Olympics World Games.

The Special Olympics World Games, the world’s largest inclusive sporting event, is underway in Berlin, Germany.

This year’s championships are being celebrated under the theme ‘#UnbeatableTogether’, with over 6 500 Special Olympics athletes and unified partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities) from 176 delegations competing for silverware.

Hamutenya, who reached the final of the 1500m on Sunday, was once again on top of his game as he came from behind in the final lap of the 800m semi-final heat at the Hanns-Braun Stadium in Berlin to win that heat.

The Namibian runner clocked a time of 2:03.30 to win the race ahead of Kenyan runner Daniel Mutiso, who won the 1 500m race on Sunday. Mutiso crossed the line in second place with a time of 2:04.93 followed by Abdul Haseeb of Pakistan, who came third with a time of 2:17.77.

Namibian athletes who were still expected to compete on Monday were sprinter Louise Segaria, who was scheduled to run in the 200m Level A semi-final, as well as the 3x3 men’s unified basketball team, who will compete in their division game against Uruguay.

Cyclist Vitjituaije Master finished third in heat four of the five kilometre divisioning Time Trials heat Monday morning. He completed the race in a time of 9:11.94.

The Special Olympics World Games are being held from 18 to 25 June 2023 in Berlin. Namibia is represented in three sports codes, namely athletics, cycling and 3x3 basketball.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency