15 Nov 2022

Two national bowls champions, Marea Modutlwa and Edwin Nyoka, are set to participate at the lucrative World Singles Champion of Champions tournament in Wellington, New Zealand.

Modutlwa of Gaborone Bowling Club and Nyoka from Orapa will be part of the global event  scheduled for November 19 and 25. The event will feature both men and  women  singles.

Each  country  will  be  entitled  to  one  male  and  female  competitor while the national men’s and women’s champions from each of the 54 countries affiliated to World Bowls will take part.

In an interview before their departure on Sunday, Modutlwa said she was excited to take part in yet another world class competition. 

She said it would be her maiden appearance at the tournament after qualifying by being a national champion. 

In the 2019 tournament, which was the last before COVID-19 brought a hiatus to sporting events, Botswana sent Regent Reid and Boikhutso Mooketsi to Australia after they won the 2018 national singles championship.

The previous year Joseph Nthobelang and Deliwe Kitsiso had participated in the tournament still in Australia. 

Tshenolo Moshokgo and Fred Kelatwang who won this year’s singles championship in Orapa.

The Botswana team travelling to New Zealand boasts of an array of experience to the bowling court. 

Modutlwa is a recognised gold medalist in the Fours and silver in the pair’s disciplines in the most recent 2019 African States Tournament, which was hosted by Kenya.

She also secured a qualification spot in singles for the 2020 World Bowls Champions, which was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. 

She has represented Botswana at the Gold Coast 2018 and the recent Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Modutlwa is also part of the women’s national team, which is also making waves in bowling.

 In  addition  to  notable national  titles, Nyoka was a member of the  quartet that won  a gold medal in the fours discipline at the  2017 African States Tournament in  South Africa.

He has represented Botswana at the most recent 2019 African States Tournament in Kenya as well as the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Botswana will be part of 46 contenders hailing from 31 different World Bowls Member Nations. 

Qualifying rounds will be conducted from November 19 to  23 with two games per day for each player

Semi-finals are scheduled for the 24th followed by the finals on the 25th.   BOPA