By James Crook

TebohoMokgalagadi-day2-960x540July 14 - South Africa has named a squad of 32 athletes for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships in Lyon this week, including two reigning double world champions in T35 100m and 200m holder Teboho Mokgalagadi and T13 long jump and F13 sprint champion Ilse Hayes.

There are plenty of familiar faces on show in the team as over half of them competed at London 2012, but there are also a lot of talented young athletes that have been given the chance to shine on the world stage.

Three-time Paralympic sprint gold medallist Fanie van der Merwe is another of the experienced athletes that will be representing South Africa at the Stadium Parilly, while veteran Paralympian Ntombizanele Situ will compete in the shot put.

The squad is unaffected by the ongoing stand-off between Athletics South Africa (ASA) and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) as they are affiliated with the South Africa Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD).

"We at SASCOC wish the athletes all the best in their preparation for the IPC Championships," said SASCOC chief executive Tubby Reddy.

"South Africa has always excelled at both the Paralympics and IPC Championships and brought many medals home previously.

"Consequently, we urge the team to bring more medals back home this year.

"SASCOC continues to offer the team undivided support to make the IPC Championships a success for the South African nation."

151525443Fanie van der Merwe is one of the big names included in the South African squad for Lyon 2013

Neels Matthyser will serve as team manager, assisted by Zelda Hansen, while Suzanne Ferreira, Jean du Plessis, Karin Le Roux, Jacobus van Zyl will coach the team with Tanya Green as physiotherapist.

South Africa finished tenth on the medal table at the last IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch two years ago, amassing eight gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals.

But the squad will be missing the star from Christchurch and current reigning champion in three events, Oscar Pistorius, who has not been selected for the World Championships after his manager ruled him out of competing this year due to his mental state as he awaits trial charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.  

The Championships are due to get underway in Lyon on Friday (July 19) and will run through to July 28.

View the full squad here. 

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