Fast times are on the cards when Paralympic speedsters Fanie van der Merwe and Tebogo Mokgalagadi strive to make it to the top of the medal podium at the Nedbank national championships for the physically disabled.

Fast times are on the cards when Paralympic speedsters Fanie van der Merwe and Tebogo Mokgalagadi strive to make it to the top of the medal podium at the Nedbank national championships for the physically disabled.

The event at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth starts on April 6.

At last year's Beijing Paralympics, Western Cape-based Van der Merwe won gold in the 100 metres, while Mokgalagadi from Bloemfontein claimed bronze over the same distance.

Both athletes have achieved major success in the sports arena, and have shown what can be done through passion and determination, despite their challenge from cerebral palsy.

With more than 800 physically disabled and visually impaired athletes from 12 regional associations set to compete in athletics, swimming, archery, football goalball, boccia and power-lifting, several sports heroes will be out to shine, while rising talent will be out to take the challenge to the stars.

Andy Scott, head of Nedbank Group Sponsorships, said that sport for the physically disabled plays an important role in Nedbank's overall sponsorship strategy.

"Since our initial sponsorship of the event in 1992, it has been the feeder system for the national team and other representative teams," he said. - Sapa