Jan Sleurs (75) receives a sports merit award in Pelt (Pelt)

The municipality of Pelt honored no fewer than 445 athletes during two champion tributes. The youth champions were celebrated on March 15, the adults were honored on Friday in cc Palethe.

Some special prizes were awarded on Friday evening. For example, cyclist Sente Sentjens received the prize of ‘Sports Figure in the Spotlight’. The past year was undoubtedly the year of the big breakthrough for him. He won a bronze medal at the European Junior Time Trial Championships. Sente also recorded notable results throughout the year, such as a win in the E3 Saxo Bank Classic among the juniors, a third place in Gent-Wevelgem among the juniors and the final victory in the Vuelta junior al la Ribera del Duero. Due to sporting commitments, the cyclist was unable to collect his prize in person, so he thanked the municipality with a video message in which he promised to be present next time.

The Peltse Sportverdienste prize can only be won once. This year that special recognition went to 75-year-old Jan Sleurs. The retired physical education teacher was one of the founders of the Neerpeltse Athletics Club SACN in 1978. He has had an entire career as a trainer and athlete, but is still active on the slopes. As an athlete he became provincial champion indoor 200 and 1500 meters masters.

Pole vaulter Kyani Joosten has also been able to call herself ‘Promising Youngster 2023’ since Friday evening. She won two national titles among the schoolchildren and was therefore allowed to participate in the European Championships, where she achieved tenth place in her discipline.

Pelt was also able to honor several athletes internationally. For example, Jarne Claes from the Target.177 shooting club became world junior field target champion. In addition, Wim Eerdekens (NWC) can call himself European kayak champion among the K1 500 meters veterans. Joris Geers, Sander Janssen, Erwin Smids and Tom Verduyckt (NWC) were crowned European champion Quadrathlon team. Karateka Jolie Fransen (KCAR) also became European Kata WIKF champion. Finally, Pelt also has a European kickboxing champion: Aliou Sow from Ngimbi Sports Academy in the -70 kg class.