South Africa's athletes are well on track to reaching their full potential at the Beijing Olympics, according to a sports official of the country.
Molatelo Malehopo, development manager of Athletics South Africa (ASA), expressed the view after three South African athletes returned from the just-finished World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain, with two medals.
Malehopo told South African newspaper The Citizen on Tuesday that the athletes' performance indicated that South Africa's Beijing preparations are well on track.
"This is a reflection of the many months and years of planning that has gone into this year's Olympics and we will be able to hold our own in Beijing," he was quoted as saying.
Khotso Mokoena secured his first global senior title with an 8.08 meters leap in the men's long jump final to claim the gold medal. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi equaled his silver medal performance from two years ago with a national record of 1:44.91 in the men's 800 meters final on Sunday night to earn South Africa's second medal, which bumped them up to sixth place on the medals table.
Janice Josephs qualified for the women's long jump final with a 6.51 meters leap, but was unable to match her performance from the first round, placing eighth with a best jump of 6.39 meters.
"The world indoors is a stepping stone to bigger things and has always be part of our plans," Malehopo said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2008)