25 Jul 2017

Team Botswana is preparing well for the coming IAAF world championships to be staged in London from August 4-13.

The team left last week for a training camp in Cardiff where they will acclimatise, and will travel to London on July 30.

Botswana has sent a team of athletes who have what it takes to make it to the podium.

In the last world championships held in Beijing, the country only managed to send four athletes and the men’s 4x400m relay team, while in the current edition, the country has doubled the number after eight athletes surpassed the qualification mark.

The country also has two 4x400m relay teams of both women and men. 

The men’s team includes Baboloki Thebe, Isaac Makwala, Karabo Sibanda, Onkabetse Nkobolo and Leaname Maotoanong, while the women team consists of Lydia Jele, Amantle Montsho, Christine Botlogetswe, Galefele Moroko, Goitseone Seleka and Oarabile Babolai.

The team’s coach, Justice Dipeba said in a telephone interview that preparations were going well in Cardiff.

He said all the athletes, who had been competing in different events all over the world, joined the camp in Cardiff except  for Nijel Amos who would join them in London.

“Nijel requested to stay with his coach at this critical phase so that they can polish a few things before London,” he said.

Dipeba said they were happy with the preparations, and that they were concentrating on building speed and applying the right technique.

The team’s coach said he was happy that the athletes were responding well during training, and that they were looking forward to the competition.

Meanwhile, the last time the country won a medal at the world championships was in 2011 in Dageu courtesy of Montsho when she delivered the first ever gold medal in the world championships. ENDS