02 Oct 2015

The JKA Botswana team arrived from the All JKA Africa Cup recently where they competed against some of the best JKA students in the continent.

In an interview, the vice chairperson, marketing and publicity of JKA Botswana, Keone Kgorotlhe said there were nine countries which were represented including some of the JKA top instructors from Japan who came to conduct training courses.

Sensei Kgorotlhe said other countries that took part were the host South Africa, Egypt, DR Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Tanzania.

He said having seen some of the countries doing well in international competitions, Botswana Team had set a target of 15 medals but against all odds the team performed beyond expectation and scooped 35 medals. 

He said South Africa had an advantage of fielding more than two participants in each category and in all categories and one of JKA Botswana aspiring students, Titus Ponatshego won three medals, a gold  in individual kumite, silver in senior men team kata and bronze in individual kata.

One of the long serving JKA female athletes, Waabo Anwar also brought home three medals gold in individual kumite, silver in team kata and bronze in team B kumite.
Kgorotlhe said in the 9-10 years category, Team Botswana fielded a promising star in Kgole Bareeleng who scooped gold in the individual kumite and came back again in the same category to snatch a silver medal.

He said another expected top performance was from the silver medalist of the just ended All Africa games held in Congo Brazzaville and a bronze medalist at the Commonwealth games which were held in India about a week ago. 

Lame Hetanang came home with three medals a gold in female team kumite, silver in female team kata and silver in women individual kumite.

He said the team continued to do well as Malebogo Roberts, Gaone Mothoyomotona, Tshuma Badumedi, Rejoice Segopotso and Kagiso Ratlhogo, the men’s senior team were also a marvel to watch which comprised of Sensei’s Kgorotlhe, China Metswi, Koketso Masena, Ponatshego and Tsaone Motshwaedi under the watchful eye of coaches’ Othusitse Dick and Karabo Motsamai. 

The next JKA All Africa Cup will be held in 2017 which will be followed by the World Cup in Japan in 2018 and team Botswana intends to feature in these big events especially the World Cup. 

He expressed gratitude and noted that the team would never have achieved all these without the support from Marvin Sports, FEGO Café, Shoppers Gaborone West, Department of Gender Affairs, Majestic 5 Hotel and Botswana Karate Association. Ends