09 Feb 2022

 Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) will continue its search for athletes that can represent the country in four international events this year.

Consequently, the association will over the weekend hold its third track and field series at Francistown’s Obed Itani Chilume Stadium.

“The event is a qualifier for the four major international championships that will be coming later this year,” said BAA vice president-administration, Oabona Theetso in an interview.

He said the events were Africa Senior Championships, World Championships, World U-20 and Commonwealth Games.

Theetso said he hoped the Francistown meet would produce athletes with qualifying times.

Regarding COVID-19 protocols, Theetso said spectators would be allowed entry provided they produced COVID-19 vaccination cards at the gate.

So far, Oarabile Tshosa and Thuto Masasa have qualified for the Senior Africa Championships in the first event that was held in Gaborone on January 16, while in Francistown, Letsile Tebogo qualified for both the World U-20 and Africa senior championships in 400m.

These series come at a time when Debswana Mining Company has announced a P9 million sponsorship to stimulate athletes’ interest to compete at the highest level and deliver silverware that would make the country proud.

The P9 million sponsorship will be spread over a three year period, from 2022 to 2024. ENDs