Badminton blames fatigue for early exit

Naledi Lemogang | Friday April 21, 2017 15:34

BBA president, Godfrey Mathumo told Mmegi Sport yesterday that the two teams comprising five men and five women, travelled to South Africa on the day of the competition.

He said the team had their games in the afternoon and therefore fatigue had an effect on their first performance which was not good.

 “Overall both women and men’s teams played well, but not when they faced Zambia in their first game. 

Our team was weak when they played Zambia because they never had time to rest,” Mathumo said.

Botswana was in the same group as Zambia, Uganda, Egypt and Zimbabwe in Group A. 

Mathumo said Zambia and Egypt qualified for the next stage after they beat Botswana, both winning 5-0. 

He said despite the fact that they have been knocked out, the technical team is happy with the performance. 

He said the women played well, saying that they had two veterans except one woman who is a young member of the team. 

He added that she lacks a little bit of experience, but she is pushing adding that she did well in the Botswana Open Badminton Championship last month. However, the performance displayed was impressive since the team won both men and women singles, and doubles throughout the group stages, he said.

Meanwhile, Botswana has sent three members from the men’s and women’s teams to take part in the competition’s singles, which started on Wednesday.  The competition ends on Sunday.

Botswana Teams’ combined results: 

Botswana             0-5             Egypt

Botswana             4-1             Uganda

Botswana             0-5            Zambia

Botswana             5-0             Zimbabwe