01 Dec 2020

Tefo Kabomo and Tessa Kabelo have respectively won Botswana Badminton Association (BBA) 2020 Open Championships men’s and women’s singles titles.

The two-day competition was held over the weekend at Lobatse Sports Complex.

Kabomo, who was handed a bye in the men’s singles, defeated Millind Dussian, Thobo Bogatsu and Tlamelang Kepaletswe by straight games to set up a final clash with Godknows Ketlhabanetswe.

In a nail-biting final on Sunday, Kabomo was a model of composure as he won 2-0 against his tenacious rival.

The 2-0 score was, however, harsh on Ketlhabanetswe, who gave Kabomo real competition throughout the match.

Kabomo settled quickly in the final and used a powerful forehand to establish an 11-6 lead at interval of the first game.

Ketlhabanetswe, however, clawed back into contention and levelled matters midway through the game.

But the experienced Kabomo held his nerve to narrowly win the first game 21-19.

The two players tussled hard in a closely contested second game, but with the game delicately poised at 17 all, Ketlhabanetswe misjudged the flight of the shuttlecock, which dropped inside the line.

He then sunk a return straight into the net under no pressure.

The two unforced errors gave Kabomo a breathing space, and the experienced player capitalised to seal a 21-17 win to clinch the title.

In the women’s category, Kabelo secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Tebogo Ndzinge to win the women’s singles final.

She won the first game by 21-13 and the second game by 21-12.

The women’s doubles competition was won by Botho Makubate and Leungo Tshweneetsile after defeating Ndzinge and Kgalalelo Kegakilwe by 2-0 in the final.

The men’s doubles competition was won by Prince Monnaathata and Ketlhabanetswe.

They defeated Gaone Tawana and Tshepo Perekisi 2-0 in the final.

Kabomo won his second trophy of the championships by teaming up with Botho Makubate to win the mixed doubles competition.

The tournament, which is the flagship badminton competition in Botswana, carried a total prize-money of P15 200.

Winners of the singles competition were given P1  000 and a trophy, while the runner-up got P700.

The semifinalists got P500 each. The doubles and mixed doubles winners received P1 200 and a trophy, the runners-up got P1 000, while the semifinalists got P600.

Lobatse MP, Dr Thapelo Matsheka, who is also Minister of Finance and Economic Development, graced the occasion.

He urged the badminton fraternity to start a recruitment drive in Lobatse and other areas to grow their code.

He said government would continue to promote the growth of sport by providing facilities of good standard in this country.

“We as government will dedicate the necessary resources to make sure that we provide facilities of better standards,” he said.

He pointed that sport gave many young people the avenue to realise their full potential, which made it important to the development of the nation. ENDS