21 Aug 2014

African Youth Games champion and Botswana star, Karabo Sibanda has done the country proud by qualifying for the semi-finals of the men’s 400m at the ongoing Nanjing Youth Games in China.

Sibanda, 17, qualified after scooping the first position in the third heat of the race alongside his African colleague Mutuku Ian, whom he beat again at the African Youth Games which were held in Gaborone in May.

Sibanda did 47:43 seconds. “I said when preparing for these games that I want to go get a medal at the final, so this is the first step and I am looking forward to the semi-finals,” said Sibanda.

Among other athletes who made it in other heats were the current World Youth Champion Martin Marnely of Jamaica who easily won the first heat alongside Vedel Benjamin of Denmark. The final will be on Saturday.

In other races, Simon Kebatshole finished 13^th in the men’s 3 000m while Naomi Ruele of swimming also failed to make it to the final of the women’s 50m backstroke. ENDS