Karate wins two medals for Botswana
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday March 12, 2024 08:21
During team selection, there was a lot of resistance from within the karate fraternity. Due to that, the team travelled to the Games without any preparations and upon arrival in Accra, it was all about action at the Borteyman Olympic Standard Stadium.
Lethabo Sekano was the first athlete to scoop a medal for team Botswana, which was a bronze in the Under 68kg women kata.
Sekano started the competition by snatching an 11-2 victory from Cameroon, missing the finals by whisker after losing 4-3 to Tunisia. Due to an injury to an athlete who was in position three, Sekano was declared the winner. Meanwhile, Botswana secured another bronze medal through the women’s kata team that comprised Lesego Masimola, Sekano, and Amantle Leburu. But it was a bad day in office for Quinton Mosupiemang as he was defeated in the Under 75kg kumite against Cameroon. Kao Nsala reached the second stage (bronze match) in the men’s kata and kumite in the Under 67kg category losing to Guinea.
Masimola competed in the women’s individual kumite in the Under 55kg category but was knocked out by Congo. Another karateka, Leburu lost to Algeria’s Cylia Quikene in the semi-finals. The women’s kumite team of Masimola, Leburu and Sekano won the first round against Burkina Faso, won against Zambia, lost in the semi final against Senegal and went to fight for a bronze medal finish only to lose 2-1 to Congo. The team finished in position five. The Games were previously due to take place in August 2023, but because of economic problems, delays in preparations and issues between shareholders, they were postponed to 2024. Swimming team was in action on Saturday without podium finish. Maxine Egner finished in position five in the 100m freestyle final clocking a personal best (PB) of 58.00, improving her previous PB of 58.46.
Kyra Harry did not qualify for the finals after finishing in position seven in the women’s 100m freestyle. The swimming mixed relay team comprising Adrian Robinson, Kyra Harry, Andile Bekker and Egner finished in position eight with 3.55.10 time. Speaking after the competition, karate team coach, Ofentse Bakwadi said overall they did well. “We assembled a team of young people and I believe they have a bright future. The women’s team kata lost to Egypt in the semi-finals and they ended up winning a bronze medal and being third placed.
Having lost to the champions, they qualified for the World championships to be held later this year,” he said. Regarding the resilience against the team, Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president, Mpho Bakwadi told SportMonitor that it is important to remember that African Games were to be held in 2023 therefore the team members were selected last year. “Team selection is performance-based,. Once you perform, you are in the team. Even though we were roped in the last minute, we brought results. Unfortunately we cannot satisfy everyone,” he said.
The Botswana Swimming Sport Association (BSSA) president, Kgaotsang Matthews, said they are happy with the performance of the team. “Getting into the finals for two races is a big achievement, with Egner placing very well in position five in the end. Attempt to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics continues,” Matthews said.