05 Jul 2016

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) has named a formidable team that will represent the country at the IAAF World U20 Championships, penciled for Bydgoszcz, Poland on July 19-24.

The team which is made up of 400m Africa champion, Baboloki Thebe and silver medalist, Karabo Sibanda is expected to conquer the world and leave a mark at the championships.

Both Thebe and Sibanda have also qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

After the championships, the team’s next stop is Rio de Janeiro.

But the million dollar question is, will the team emulate, Nijel Amos and prove to the world that their Olympic qualification was not fluke?

In 2012, Amos won a gold medal at the World Junior Championships held in Barcelona clocking 800 m record of 1:43.79 before jetting off to London where he won Botswana’s first Olympics silver medal. 

BAA secretary general, Legojane Kebaitse said they were confident that all the 12 athletes heading to Bydgoszcz were tried and tested.

“If you look at our team, some competed at the just ended 20th CAA African Senior Championship, whereas some competed at the 2016 Southern Junior Championships and records are there for all to see. In a nutshell they performed very well,” he said.

Kebaitse further said there was no doubt that the team would win more than one medal given that all athletes who had qualified for the competition were all hungry for success.

Furthermore, he said preparations went well and all athletes know the importance of winning a medal for the country.

“We also want to keep the momentum in the 4x400 men’s relay team, and our expectations are that, we will keep the fire burning. Remember we are the African champions,” he said.

Thebe and Xholani Talane would represent the country in the 200m race, while the 400m team is made up of Thebe, Sibanda and Mompoloki Nkape, while Omphemetse Poo will compete in the 400 metre hurdles.

In 800metres, Botswana will be represented by Gorata Gabankitse while Aobakwe Malau will compete in the 100 metres, and the only woman Galefele Moroko will take the 800 metres.

The 4x 400 metres men’s relay is made up of Thebe, Sibanda, Gabankitse, Thabiso Sekgopi, and Poo, while the 1x 400 metres men’s relay team is made of Malau, Poo, Thabiso Sekgopi, Talane, and Mompoloki Powane. Team Botswana is under the tutelage of Mogomotsi Otsetswe.ENDS