Cradock-based disabled powerlifter, Xolani Ndatya has added another gold medal to his collection after lifting 100kg and clinching the 2023 Toyota National Championships at the Belhar Sport Centre in Cape Town, last weekend.
Ndatya was selected with five other athletes in Gqeberha in November last year to represent the Eastern Cape powerlifting team in the Toyota National Championships in Cape Town.
This is Ndatya’s third gold medal in his powerlifting calling; the first one was in the same Toyota National Championships that were held in 2019 before the 2021 African Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships victory in Potchefstroom.
“I am thrilled to have won this medal on the last day of the 2023 Toyota National Championships. I am so happy that I got this win,” said Ndatya, who was participating for the forth time in the Toyota National Championships.
He added that he had stiff competition at this year’s gathering facing a Gauteng athlete who came second. “The competition was tight and the athlete from Gauteng who came second gave me great contention.”
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However, the gold medalist has told his rivals that he is improving, warning them that he will work hard during the break to ensure he adds to his medal collection.
“I feel like I am getting better every time I compete in a competition; I feel like I was in the best shape of my life a couple of weeks ago. I want to continue bringing more medals and represent South Africa in the Paralympic Games one day,” said Ndatya.
Prior to winning gold in the 2021 African Powerlifting Championships, he qualified to get Federation colours as an able-bodied lifter in the Master One category.
