15 Aug 2023

It will be an exciting weekend for the athletics family as fans get to experience the most exciting showpiece to be given by Botswana athletes at the 2023 World Athletics Championships starting Saturday.

This time around, the nation and followers are hungry that athletes bring medals home and with the expectation of a record haul, from the nine-day tournament scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary from August 19-27.

The last time the country ascended an international podium was through the famous and celebrated Nijel Amos, Amantle Montsho, Isaac Makwala, Baboloki Thebe and Karabo Sibanda. Montsho attained Botswana’s first ever Gold medal in the women’s 400m final at the IAAF World Championships in 2011 and since then, none of the local athletes followed her steps but always came back empty-handed.

Despite doing well in other competitions including Africa Senior Championships, Olympic and Commonwealth Games, the World Athletics Championships medals continued to elude Botswana. “Can the current crop of athletes clear the seemingly ‘dark cloud’ hovering over the country.” This is what is in the minds of people as the championships approach. The nation now pins hope on Letsile Tebogo, Leungo Scotch, Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi as well as the 4x400 men’s and women’s relay teams in the global competition.

In an interview, Sunday Standard’s Sports Editor, Botlhale Koothopile, was of the view that the country has a reason to be optimistic:  “We are on the right track to end the 12 year drought at this year’s championships. We are taking a relatively young promising team and anything can happen. I believe we have a chance to bring home at least two medals.”

The first medal the country could get, he said, could be through Tebogo, who stands a chance to be pitted up against USA’s Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton in vying for the title of the world’s fastest 200m runner.

“As for the medal colour, I cannot say. But given that Tebogo and Knighton are a little younger and recover faster, they have the potential to cause a huge surprise in the finals.” he said.

Koothopile opined that the second medal prospect could be in the men’s 400m relay, as they have been doing well in previous competitions.

He added: “We are likely to get a bronze medal here, simply because the likes of USA will be there to take the gold. However, in the men’s 400m individual races, we can make it to the semis, and maybe the finals but our medal prospect does not look so bright,”he said. ENDS