13 Feb 2023

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA), on Saturday, hosted the first round of individual senior championships that are qualifying rounds for national team selection.

Speaking on the side-lines of an intensive first leg of the senior championships at Naledi Senior Secondary School multipurpose hall, BOKA spokesperson, Keorapetse Dube said the last two legs would be hosted in March and April.

Dube said the three qualifying rounds would earn karatekas various points depending on the medal slot and increase their chances of nomination to a pool of athletes from which the national team would be picked.

The senior national team is set to take part in some regional and international games, among them, the African Union Sport Council (AUSC Region 5) tournament, 2023 African Games pencilled for Ghana, Africa Beach Games and ANOC World Beach Games.

On Saturday, over 100 karatekas turned up for the senior individual kata and kumite round for both male and females. In a closely contested senior male kumite Under 75kg, SSKB’s sensation, Gofaone Mosupiemang, continued his rich vein of form scooping gold ahead of Omogolo Lekaukau and Dan Batlhomile who came in second and third respectively.

In the senior male kumite Under 84kg, SSKB’s Oratile Caiphus got the shock of his life when Gustavo Johannes inched past him and Nelson Matshamekwane of Oodi club for the top spot.

An interesting duel ensued in the senior male Under 67kg kumite where former junior team champion, Louis Madibela fought to a bitter end against the tried and tested Gabriel Ramasimong.

Madibela proved to have matured from the junior ranks coming second, after Ramasimong and ahead of Larona Tshukudu and Kebabitse Pelaelo.

Kagiso Mophuting, who participated in the last World Karate Championships, failed to make a mark and was beaten by Thabo Letshwiti to the first spot while Boemo Ramasimong came second.

In the female categories, Lethabo Sekano beat Maatla Moremedi in the kumite U-68kg. In the U-55kg division, it was sweet revenge for Tshegofatso Chepete who beat her close rival Amantle Leburu of SSKB to the first position.

Leano Patse pulled off a surprise in the U-50kg female kumite coming ahead of favourites in the mould of national team karatekas Centy Kgosikoma, Charleene Magalie and Lame Hetanang.

Kgosikoma dusted herself up in the senior female kata and scooped gold ahead of Entle Maungwa and Hetanang. Oratile Nkhumisang beat Onkemetse Chepete to the first spot in the senior female kumite U-61kg. ENDS