The Botswana junior table tennis team, Diteemane has brought home a total of five medals from the South Africa Senior and Junior Regional Championship that was held in Durban, South Africa recently.
The competition had brought together some of the region’s finest young athletes from South Africa’s nine provinces and neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Botswana’s junior team that was made up of 10 players (boys and girls) has won one gold, one silver, and three bronze medals.
Lekorwe and SA’s Tamika Van as teamed up in the mixed U13 category and won a gold medal. Lekorwe has also walked away with silver in the boys U13 category. David (girls U13 singles), Sebetlela (boys U11 singles), Lekorwe and Sebetlela (U13 boys doubles) won three bronze medals.
Several other Diteemane athletes are also reported to have delivered commendable performances, gaining valuable experience on the international stage. Buisananyang managed to reach the Round of 32 in the U11 Singles, showing excellent improvement, while Mogaladi advanced to the Round of 32 in the U15 and U19 Girls categories demonstrating great composure.
Batsholeng competed in the same category, reaching the Round of 64 in her first international appearance while Mothabani gained valuable exposure through competitive matches in her age division.
Thebeyame, competing in the U19 category, performed with maturity and determination, reaching the Round of 64 in one of the championship’s toughest age groups, while Kotopo gained valuable exposure also getting knocked out in the group stages of U19 boys’ category.
In an interview, Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) Public Relations Officer Tsheogofatso Malepa stated that the international competition is a platform for local players to gain exposure. She had noted that the competition will give athletes an opportunity to gauge their performance against South Africa team which always give them a tough competition.
Malepa had pointed that that last year they brought home a total of five medals from the competition, two gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal, and their plan was to surpass the number.
The boys’ squad was made up of Reneilwe Lekorwe (U13), Agobakwe Sebetlela (U11), Kgotla Thebeyame, (U19) and Tebogo Kotopo (U19).
The girls’ team was made up of Sethunya Buisananyang (U11), Masa Mothabani (U13), Gabriella Tsiaka (U15), Brianna Mogaladi (U15), Stephney Batsholeng (U11) and Carol David (U13).
