30 Jan 2017

Botswana’s finest 400 metre runner Karabo Sibanda has qualified for the IAAF World Championships London 2017 during the Orapa track and field meeting held on Saturday.

Sibanda clocked a time of 45:26 in his first official race of the year, and he will board the same flight to Great Britain with his training partner Baboloki Thebe of 400 metres and 800 metres specialist, Nijel Amos who had qualified by virtue of being African champions.

He said in an interview that he was happy to have qualified in his first official race of the year, although he went to Orapa just to check his fitness.

Sibanda said also his early qualification was a clear indication that his Rio Olympic fitness is still working for him.

“It is a good start for the season, and my aim is to continue working very hard, and I know I can improve my time, but I am happy I don’t have any pressure now to qualify,” he said.

He said his late qualification for Rio was delayed by the injuries he sustained during the season, and he know the pain and the pressure of hitting the qualifying mark late, hence it was a blessing for him to qualify early.

He said now that he had qualified, his coach would now field him in the 200 metres events just to sharpen the speed so as to prepare for the competition.

According to Sibanda his main focus is Tokyo 2020, as his ambition is to make it to the podium.

“Yes I have qualified for the World Championships and I know how badly Batswana are salivating for yet another World Championships medal, but for me I want Olympic medal, hence I should start preparing for it now.

World Championship in a way would be part of the preparations,” he said.

Botswana Athletics Association, secretary Legojane Kebaitse said they were happy that Sibanda qualified earlier and that would give him ample time to now concentrate on preparation for the major event.                        

He said also the advantage of qualifying early helps in avoiding injuries attributed to the qualifications rush in the last minute.  

Furthermore, he said they were expecting most of their other runners to qualify very soon looking at their intense off season programme.                   

Quizzed if Orapa Ground was certified, Kebaitse said the only grounds certified were University of Botswana and National Stadium

“In the past Pako Seribe qualified for the Championships London in Orapa, and Nijel Amos qualified for 2012 London Olympics in Molepolole. BOPA