Lekorwe improves on Rebatenne's record in Africa
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday July 27, 2024 06:00
Lekorwe was the star player as the Junior Diteemane lined up for the ITTF-Africa Youth Championships that were held in Gaborone from July 15-21. The team made an impression after winning a bronze medal in the Under-19 women's team events. The medal was the only one for the local team as Junior Diteemane finished seventh from 17 participating nations. After their bronze medal success, the Junior Diteemane found a tougher assignment in the doubles and singles events. Lekorwe, however, managed to reach the round of 16 of the competition replacing Tshepiso Rebatenne as the best-performing table tennis player in continental tournaments. The top-ranked women's player found her way into the table tennis history books last year when she reached the round of 32 of the ITTF-Africa Senior Championship held in Tunisia. The 37-year-old was Botswana's sole representative at the championship and defied the odds to become the first Motswana to reach the knockout round in recent years. She was knocked out of the competition by Ghanaian player, Augustina Baidoo, following a 4-0 loss.
In last week's edition of the Youth Championships, three athletes advanced to the knockout round of the competition making it the highest number ever recorded by any age group in the Diteemane squads. The Under-15 girls' duo of Lillian Tsiaka and Rethabile Motsamai, alongside Lekorwe, reached the knockout rounds. Cadence Farmer of Namibia knocked out Tsiaka with a 4-1 score line while Tunisian, Ela Saidi, defeated Motsamai 4-0. This left Lekorwe to carry the local torch as he became the first local player to win a game in a continental championship as he won his round of 32 tie against Namibian athlete, Caden Bosman 4-1. The youngster's celebrations were short-lived as he was later on in the day defeated 4-0 by Joseph Sebatindira in the round of 16. The nine-year-old has been enjoying a good time on the table since 2021 as he dominated his age group. Earlier this year, he finished with a bronze in the singles and a silver medal in the men's doubles of the Limpopo Table Tennis Association Open tournament.