04 Jul 2023

Four table tennis players have qualified for the Africa Table Tennis Championships after performing well during the four-day International Table Tennis Association (ITTF) Southern Africa region world qualifiers that were held at Botho University in Gaborone on last week.

Tshepiso Rebatenne, Constance Kuswani, Tshenolo Mooketsi and Bakang Maloka have qualified in a tournament that was dominated by South Africa and Angola players. The quartet are among the eight players that will represent Southern Africa at the Africa championships in Tunis, Tunisia in September.

Team South Africa won both the team and singles category.

Team Botswana came short in the teams’ category. The local boys finished third while the girls settled for fourth position.

While South Africa was battling with Angola for supremecy, Botswana was at loggerheads with neighbouring Zambia for the bronze position.

Botswana managed to beat Zambia 3-1 in the men’s team category, but the Zambian women revenged the defeat of their men with a 3-2 victory over Botswana women.

The winners at the African region tournament will represent the continent at the World Table Tennis Championships billed for Busan, South Korea, next year.

Botswana team coach, Thobo Matlhatsi said the qualifiers were a learning curve for him and the players. He was, however, content with what his players have achieved despite failing to qualify for team events.

Matlhatsi said the four players that made it through have served the nation with pride. He said the players must work extra hard.

Botswana’s team captain, Masa Lesole said the team put up an impressive and sterling performance and that they were getting more competitive with each tournament.