03 Mar 2014

Boitshwarelo Butale played a beautiful brand of table tennis that impressed spectators when she scooped a gold medal in the senior women’s category during the table tennis tournament dubbed Smash Maniacs over the weekend.

Boitshwarelo, from Smash Maniacs Table Tennis Club, which was the host of the tournament, also went home P1 000 richer after she beat Tshepiso Rebatenne of BDF Table-tennis club 3-1 in the finals. Tshepiso was crowned silver medalist and won P600.

The bronze medalist position was shared by Lovie Chilisa and Phemelo Rebatenne both from Smash Maniacs. Each player walked away P400 richer.

Meanwhile, South African players dominated the senior men’s category which saw Chijioke Osuji receiving a gold medal and P1 000 for taking position one after beating Itumeleng Molahloe 3-1.

Both players played decent and exquisite tennis but Osuji’s tactics in the last set saw him sending Itumeleng packing. Osuji defeated most of his contenders to qualify for the finals. Earlier, Osuji had played and beat Tiro Motswasele of BDF Table Tennis Club in group stages to qualify for the semi-finals.

Though Tiro lost 3-1, the player was too good for Osuji. His main problem was that he lacked strength in his reception of the ball as Osuji used risks tactics to vary his services.

But in general, Tiro outclassed him because he matched his play as evidenced by the narrow margins in all the four sets they played. There were also prizes for the team events and under 18 boys and girls singles.

The team event prize in the men’s category went to Table Tennis Addicts who won a trophy, P1 500 and gold medals. Second was Smash Maniacs winning silver medal while third on the spot was Nhabe Table tennis from Maun who scooped the bronze medal.

The women’s category saw Smash Maniacs taking position one and winning gold medals and P1 500 with BDF Table Tennis occupying position two winning silver medals and P1 000 whilst position three went again to Smash Maniacs, who were crowned bronze medalists.

Under 18 boys singles, Bakang Maloka was crowned gold medalists with Peo Thebe occupying position two winning himself a silver medal while Kebabonye Lute and Theo Nkopo shared the bronze medal.

In the girls category, Laone Mpodi scooped position one winning herself a gold medal, with Ludo Ishmael occupying position two and winning a silver medal. The bronze medal was shared between Gorata Ramagapu and her sister Olorato Ramagapu.

This tournament was attended by a total of 100 participants with 75 men and 25 women and the tournament was played in two types, the team event and super singles.

The tournament started off with the launch of the sponsorship deal that has been struck between Smash-Maniacs Table-Tennis Club and Kam Bricks Holdings to the tune of P17 000 for one year.

Out of that amount, P12 000 was dedicated towards sponsoring the team for a year and the remainder was dedicated towards prizes for the tournament.

Though it was the first time hosting such a successful event, both Smash-Maniacs and Kam Bricks Holdings did suggest that their intentions were to make it an annual event. ENDS