In December, the BTTA will host four high-profile international tournaments to be hosted at the Botho University Multi-Purpose Hall. The four tournaments will feature different age groups as the BTTA opens up the festive season action. The annual Phoenix Assurance Botswana International tournament returns and will be held on December 14-15.
The Phoenix Assurance Botswana International tournament carries the biggest prize of the four, with a premium winner's prize set at P3,000. Prior, the BTTA will host an inaugural tournament in their calendar with the Commonwealth Under-13 tournament on December 12 while the Under-15 Regional tournament will follow on December 13 and the Phoenix Assurance Botswana Under-13 International tournament will run concurrently with the seniors' international tournament on December 14-15. The BTTA said Region 5 countries have shown interest in competing in the four internationals with over 100 participants expected in the capital city.
The BTTA's public relations officer, Tshegofatso Malepa, said the tournaments are part of a strategy by the association as BTTA eyes its Olympics debut in Los Angeles in 2028. "We are trying to expose most of our development players to international tournaments and also show the rest of the world that we are a hub for hosting international tournaments. Through these tournaments, we are gauging ourselves and gearing up to qualify for the next Olympics," Malepa said. The quartet of tournaments are courtesy of a partnership between the BTTA and Phoenix Assurance Botswana and the insurance company has injected P42, 000 as sponsorship.
The BTTA has since got a thumbs up from the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) to host the self-funded tournaments. The BTTA has over the years, raised its hand as one of the best hosts in the local sporting scenes. The federation has hosted the Region 5 Championship on a number of occasions. The BTTA broke into the continental scene as they hosted the ITTF Africa Youth Championship and the ITTF Africa Hopes and Challenge Week in July.
