03 Mar 2024

Turnstar Holdings Limited has partnered with the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) in the upcoming youth championships.

Through the partnership, both the Africa Youth Championships slated for July 15 to 21 and the July 23 to 28 Commonwealth Youth Championships will be held at Game City rooftop grounds in Gaborone.

Speaking at the unveiling of the venue on Friday, Turnstar Holdings chief operations officer, Shiran Puvimanasinghe said the company had realised the importance of contributing to youth development by supporting sport.

As such, he said the 700 square metres of rooftop space was being developed to cater for various sports codes such as table tennis, five-a-side football, cricket and netball among others.

He said the company was happy to offer their support to sports development in general adding that Game City shopping mall would provide the visitors with unlimited shopping choices.

“We are ready to take care of your visitors, their security will be our responsibility,” he said.

Botswana Table Tennis Association president Kudzanani Motswagole appreciated Turnstar Holdings Limited for having seen it fit to partner with the association towards sports development.

Motswagole said the association was focused on developing table tennis from grassroots level, adding that such a feat would only be achieved with the support of the business community.

“We are hoping for more, long and sustained partnerships. India through the office of the High Commissioner is our international partner. They add value to our sport and encourage the spirit of fair competition.

We have, in the past hosted two tournaments, dubbed India75, sponsored by the Indian High Commissioner’s office,” he said. 

Motswagole said hosting the junior championships would expose the association and the country to diverse cultures, therefore it would not only be a sports event but would offer a platform for cultural exchange. 

“We are ready to host the two championships and with your support, we are hoping to host a successful tournament,” he said.

The India High Commissioner to Botswana, Bharath Kumar Kuthati said he was impressed by the ingenuity at Game City Mall as the facility was catering for sport development.

Kuthati said India was committed to developing sports as it was testified by their partnership with BTTA. 

He said currently 11 table tennis players from Botswana had received scholarships to play table tennis and study in India. He said the scholarships had offered players the opportunity to pursue two projects at a go, which were playing table tennis and academic pursuit.

He said his office was happy to offer support to various sporting codes as sport was a great platform to increase people-to-people as well as bilateral relations.  Ends