02 Oct 2022

Tshepiso Rebatenne has defended the senior women title in the annual Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) Phoenix Assurance Independence tournament.

Rebatenne of Nhabe Table Tennis Club won 3-0 against Game Kebodiwang of BDF Table Tennis Club.

The winners received P5 000 and a gold medal, while Kebodiwang walked away with P2 000 and a silver medal.

The finals of the tournament were played on Independence Day at Botho University in Gaborone.

In a post-match interview, Rebatenne said having trained for two weeks to defend her title, she had expected her opponents to be hungry and more determined to topple her.

Currently ranked the top woman in table tennis, Rebatenne said hard work, dedication, love and passion for table tennis inspired her win.

“Even though, I am the current top seed in the women rankings, I do not relax and therefore I train a lot and give every tournament and my opponents the respect that they deserve,” she said.

“The last time I played with Kebodiwang in a final match, it was not easy at all.

I came more focused knowing that I am facing an equally fearless opponent and therefore losing concentration will be the end of the game. I capitalised against her strength, playing short balls and become fierce on the attack,” she said.

Despite the loss, Kebodiwang said her preparations for the tournament went as planned and took her to the final match.

“I was determined to win the tournament and unfortunately it did not go as planned,” she said.

She, however, promised to work hard to become victorious at another tournament billed for November.

The senior men final was equally exciting when two players from BDF Club, Thobo Matlhatsi and Tshenolo Mooketsi locked horns.

However, Mooketsi hammered Matlhatsi 3-0.

Mooketsi said his strategy was to utilise his strength as an attack minded player, therefore from the word go, he piled pressure forcing Matlhatsi to commit costly errors.

“I am used to my opponent. He is my coach at club level. I played him last year in the same finals of this tournament. He pulled me through the tournament, encouraging me to work hard, but it was only unfortunate as his teachings worked against him in the final,” he said.

Mooketsi said he came to the tournament determined to win.

“My best friend, Arthur Kgaswe, who is also a table tennis player left for India on a four-year scholarship and he gave me a table tennis ball written, the jewel of Bandleng with his signature and the date of his departure. I was dedicating the tournament to him, therefore I worked had to win it,” said Mooketsi.

For his part, Matlhatsi said he was impressed with his overall performancet.

“It was my first time to play such a final. I have been consistent in the recent past tournaments getting two bronze followed by a gold. Losing against my training partner was equally a positive thing as it has revealed that we are doing something positive at our club. As for today’s final match, technically he was good, faster therefore I could not cope with his speed,” he said.

Despite losing in the individual finals, the duo of Kebodiwang and Matlhatsi redeemed themselves with an earlier win in the mixed doubles final- the team of Masa Lesole and Olerato Ramagapu.

In the Under 12 category, Reneilwe Lekorwe and Yu Lan won the boys and girls finals respectively.

Other than the medals and prize money, the champions in all categories (Under 12, mixed doubles and senior) won a year-long life cover worth P100 000 from the tournament sponsor Phoenix Assurance. ENDS