07 Apr 2016

Malebogo Robert is one of the few women making waves in karate. The 24 year old karateka recently scooped four gold medals at the BOLESWA Intervarsity Games in Lesotho. It is all the more remarkable that the feat came after a four year hiatus from the sport due to injury.

She told BOPA on Tuesday that the medal haul came with risk of injury as Lesotho and Swaziland karatekas were full contact combatants. She says that she relied on her experience and technique to avoid injury.

Her talent surfaced in 2006 when she became a serial gold medal winner all year round at all style tournaments, which earned her a place in the Botswana junior national team.

In 2009, as recognition of her hard work and outstanding performance, she was elevated to the senior national team.

She first entered the dojo in 2001 at St Benedette Catholic Church (Dojo 20). She could not stand her strict sensei then. She left the sport only to resume training in 2004 at Tlhabologo Primary School.

She notes that the high premium the sport attaches to discipline drew her to the dojo. She says that she started seeing results as she became a much more disciplined person.

She says that she used to look up to tennis star Serena Williams because of her zeal and love for her sporting career.

She says Amantle Montsho recently became her inspiration after watching her in training a few weeks ago. 

She relates that she observed that the local athlete experienced a setback two years ago but picked herself up to form.

Robert says, contrary to rumours, she never left karate. Despite regularly training, she was not allowed to compete for two years as she was nursing a pelvic injury that she picked up during the Zone 6 Games in 2012.She underwent induction between 2014 and 2015 to become a nun with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

She is still focused on her academic studies as well.

 She is training hard to become the first Motswana World Karate Federation (WKF) champion.

Among her accolades are First Dan black belt (2006), BOKA Prospect of the Year Award winner (2007), runners up Junior Female Karateka of the Year (2008) and JKA Karateka of the Year (2009).

From 2006 to 2007 she scooped gold medals for both kata and kumite (over 60kg category) during the Zone 6 championships, while from 2009 to 2011 she won gold medal in individual kumite during the same competitions.

She won bronze for team kumite in 2011 during the Commonwealth Games. 

The following year she won gold in team kumite, silver in kata and bronze in the under 68kg kumite during the Zone 6 competitions. 

She sees herself as a role model to youngsters. She urges young sportspersons to trust God and acknowledge Him to direct their paths in life. Ends