Ishitile’s twisted ankle well on the mend
…to be ready on Friday
TOKYO – Namibia’s T11 sprinter and long jumper Lahja Ishitile, who twisted her ankle during a long jump training session last Sunday in Tokyo, is recovering well and could be ready for competition come Friday.
Ishitile, who also represented Namibia at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been under constant medical supervision from Team Namibia’s physiotherapist Julia Halwendo, who has indicated that she is well on the mend and a quick recovery is expected.
Halwendo yesterday assured that Ishitile will be ready for the competition this Friday, starting with the women’s F11 long jump and then later in the day the T11 400m heats. She will be expected to return to action on Thursday, 2 September, in the T11 100m heats.
“After twisting her ankle, we took her for MRI scans, where they told us she has a slight fracture but she is still very young and her bones can recover quickly. As we speak today (yesterday), she is no longer limping like she did when the injury happened; she can now stand and walk comfortably on her foot,” said Halwendo.
She added that Ishitile was expected to go for another MRI scan late yesterday, which will give them more indications the progress has been made. Ishitile twisted her ankle after landing on a sandbag that was placed alongside the track during her long jump training session.
Also speaking to Nampa, Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) secretary general Michael Hamukwaya said they are hopeful Ishitile will recovery well on time for her events.
“She is doing quite well and the injury is recovering, although a bit slowly. We are happy with the medical attention the doctors are giving her,” said Hamukwaya.
Ishitile, who, along with sprinters Johannes Nambala and Ananias Shikongo, are the country’s only three representatives at the Tokyo Paralympics and she is the only female athlete in the team.
Shikongo will be in action this coming Saturday in the men’s T11 400m heats before taking to the tracks on Wednesday, 1 September, in the T11 100m heats. Nambala will be in action this Sunday in the men’s T13 100m heats and then again on Wednesday, 1 September, in the T13 400m heats.
The T11 category is for athletes with visual impairment. They are entirely without sight and unable to perceive light – and have no ability to see the shape of a hand at any distance. T11 athletes commonly run with guides. Athletes with a T13/F13 sport class have the least severe vision impairment and, at times, have the highest visual acuity and/or a visual field of less than 40 degrees diameter.
The Tokyo Paralympics, which marks the 16th edition of the international multi-sport event, kicked off yesterday with the opening ceremony and ends on 5 September 2021.