Gaborone hosts last tennis event

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday November 29, 2013 16:15

BTTA vice publicity secretary, Tiro Motswasele told Mmegi Sport that the championships will start at 8am tomorrow and end in the evening.  Players ranked in the top 16 in both men and women category are eligible to play. The registration fee is P50 for singles and P100 for doubles and mixed doubles.

Motswasele said that players will be divided into groups of four in the men and women categories.

“The round robin system will be used when the players are divided into groups and two players from each group will proceed to the quarter final stage where single knock out system will be applied.

Mixed doubles and all other doubles will be single knock out,” he explained.

Boitshwarelo Butale and Bonolo Mabote from Smash Maniacs Club have been dominant since the inception of the championships in 2007. The two have won all the titles except in 2011 when Bonolo missed out. 

Some of the players expected to do well are defending champion in the men’s singles Masa Lesole (Smash Maniacs), Matshediso Osi and the skilful Butale.  He said the competition closes BTTA calendar of events for the year.

Meanwhile, the national table tennis team will go into camp on Monday to prepare for the Zone Six Championships to be held in Zambia from December 14-15.

Motswasele said the team is expected to do well in the zonal competition because the players have experience. 

Players who have been selected for national team duty are: women - Butale, Osi, Dr Lovie Chilisa, Namibo Mbulawa and Waabona Raditloko.  Men - Mafa Lesole, Thobo Mathathi, Kola Modisathebe, Rorisang Raesima and Joseph Kgatlanyane. Sai Maribe is the coach assisted by Tshepo Modisane.