Olympic berth for SA at African Slalom Champs.

The African Slalom Champs took place on the Ash River near Bethlehem this past weekend. This event was of extreme importance to the African slalom paddlers as it was their chance to qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games through the Continental Qualification process. Former Olympic champion Benjamin Boukpeti, who represents Togo, was one of the athletes desperate to claim this vital place having missed out on qualifying at the 2011 World Champs.

 

The stunning course on the Ash River, set by ICF officials, saw athletes gathering from Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, Togo and Uganda to compete for the African Champion Crown. The competition was even further enhanced with entries from Switzerland, Netherlands, France and Poland as athletes escaped the cold of European winter to train in the clean powerful rapids.

 

The South African challenge was led by Katlho “Success” Mahlaba and Donovan Wewege in the K1 events, and past Olympians Siboniso “Master” Cele and Lindilani “Cyprian” Ngidi in the C1 category.

 

In the Open Championships Dariusz Popiela from Poland (fourth in 2011 World Champs) and Benjamin Boukpeti (Bronze at Beijing Olympics) led from the start. Having two of the best slalom paddlers in the world at this event was an incredible privilege for our South African athletes and spectators.  


Benjamin Boukpeti saw the end of his dreams of Olympic qualification at the 2012 African Slalom Champs.

 

In the end, Benjamin Boukpeti (Toga) had to settle for second place in the K1 event thus missing out on the all-important African Continental qualification to the London Olympics where he had hoped to improve on his bronze medal from Beijing. First place, Olympic qualification, and the title of African Slalom K1 Champion went to Jonathan Akinyemi of Nigeria, with Mehi Rouish from Morocco claiming the final podium position.  Katleho “Success” Mahlaba was the highest placed South African in 4^th position, just ahead of. Donovan Wewege. In the ladies K1 Jihane Samlal from Morocco claimed the Olympic Place beating Debra Prossy Marembe (Uganda) into second, with Wamuranga Grace Maina (Kenya) third.


Training partners Cele and Ngidi diced it out in the C1 category, with Cele just claiming the title and Olympic berth.

 

After the Day 1 heats in the C1 category, South Africa was already looking good to secure the Olympic qualification spot . In the end, the 2012 African Champion in the Men’s C1 Slalom was none other than home town hero Siboniso “Master” Cele.  Cele managed to edge out his good friend and training partner Lindelani “Cyprian” Ngidi who threatened him each and every step of the way but faltered slightly on the all-important final run.

 

This win also secured the African Olympic qualification place for Cele in the C1. This “ticket” to London is, however, at the mercy of SASCOC who set their own qualifying criteria for slalom as the World Champs in 2011. Cele, a former Olympian, is desperate to get to London and the ICF officials out for the event were extremely impressed by his progress and dedication not only to his own paddling but also to the development of the host of aspiring and talented youngsters that himself and Ngidi coach. Seeing Cele at the 2012 London Olympic Games would do so much for the aspiration and commitment of this untapped potential for the future of Slalom in SA.