South African sport continues to end off 2019 on a high after the national women’s ice hockey team won gold at the World Championship.
On Tuesday night, their hard work and dedication paid off when the team won the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship Division III in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The 19-member team played against Hong Kong, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Romania.
The SA team were set for a tie but managed to win the tournament on points, after Romania lost to Belgium, who ended up as the runners-up.
The team only lost one game, 11-4 to Romania, but won all their other games, beating Belgium 4-3, Hong Kong 2-1, Bulgaria 2-1 and Lithuania 4-2.
The Daily Voice featured player Kaylin Lategan, 19, from Goodwood, who needed funds last month to get her to the tournament.
ACHIEVED HER GOAL: Cape Town’s Kaylin Lategan, 19. Picture: Supplied
Her mother Karen says they managed to raise the R15 500 to make her daughter’s dreams come true.
The team is still overseas and could not be reached Tuesday.
Previously, Kaylin told Daily Voice she wanted to bring home gold just like the Springboks did at the Rugby World Cup in Japan earlier this year.
“It will be a privilege to be able to represent my country and having the opportunity to bring home the gold as our rugby boys have,” Kaylin said.
A proud Karen, 39, was overcome with joy and said: “This has been Kaylin’s life-long dream to travel and represent South Africa.
“I am the proudest mom ever, regardless that she’s in another country and away from me, my support was there 24/7.
“My late father was the proudest South African I know and I am speechless as this is the first Lategan ever to bring home the gold for SA.
“My father would have been extremely proud of her,” an emotional Karen says.
With their names on top of the leaderboard, the South African team has now been promoted one division up for the 2020/21 season, and will be playing in Division II Group B.
BRING IT HOME: Kaylin says she had planned to get the gold medal for SA. Picture: Supplied
The tournament ends today and the ladies are expected back in the country later this week to show off their gold medals.