The regional qualifiers will be played at the Botho University from yesterday until Sunday with the World Championship places at stake. A total of nine countries have descended on the capital city for the preliminary round of the World Championship.
The qualifiers started with the team events. Diteemane, as the national table tennis team is called, has been given a fair group in the men’s section. Diteemane is pitted against Zambia, Lesotho and Namibia in Group B while tournament favourites, Angola and South Africa will battle it out in Group A alongside, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Diteemane’s women team could not avoid Angola in the toss and the two teams are drawn in Group B together with Lesotho and Namibia. Group A has South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Following the team events, the qualifiers will proceed to men and women singles, the doubles matches and the mixed doubles series. Meanwhile, Diteemane has assembled a very strong team that includes top ranked Bakang Maloka, Masa Lesole, Tshenolo Mooketsi and Boago Malobela in the men’s section.
The women’s team is made up of Constance Kuswani, Olorato Ramagapu, Game Kebodiwang and top ranked, Tshepiso Rebatenne. Diteemane are under the tutelage of coach Thobo Matlhatsi while Lesole and Kebodiwang are appointed captain and vice captain, respectively. Both the men and women's team go their campaigns off to a flying start with identical 3-0 wins over neighbours, Namibia.
