27 May 2024

The duo of Tshepiso Rebatenne and Bakang Maloka were on Sunday crowned champions of the Phoenix Assurance Super 8 table tennis championship in the women and men category respectively.

Rebatenne of Nhabe Table Tennis Club defeated Olorato Ramagapu 4-1 in the women’s final, while Maloka defeated Mompati Chabe of BDF Table Tennis Club with the same score line in the men’s final.

The champions each received P5 000 and a gold medal while Ramagapu and Chabe were each awarded P3 000 and a silver medal

In the women’s category, the duo of Tsholofelo Gaokgalemelwe of Smash Maniacs and Namibo Mbulawa of Dithubaruba as well as the duo of Boago Malobela of Smash Maniacs and his team mate Masa Lesole settled for bronze position receiving P2 000 each.

Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) public relations officer, Tshegofatso Malepa said the players performed to the desired expectations.

Malepa said the tournament showcased exceptional talent and sportsmanship, highlighting the competitive spirit of the country’s top table tennis players.

Malepa said the tournament was used to prepare the national team players for the Region 5 games to be hosted by Angola from June 29 to July 1.

She said four women players namely Rebatenne, Ramagapu, Emma Lelatisitswe and Gaokgalemelwe as well as the quartet of men being Maloka, Lesole, Chabe and William Olyn has made the cut to be assessed for selection into the national team to represent the country at the Region 5 Games.  Malepa also added that some of the table tennis players based in India being Tshenolo Mooketsi, Tshireletso Samuel and Tshephang Motlhamme were assessed for selection into the national team.

Meanwhile, Nhabe Table Tennis Club will on June 1, at a venue yet to be confirmed, host an open tournament sanctioned by BTTA.

A communique from the club stated that the event will feature senior men and women single categories and the U-15 boys and girls.

The tournament results will add points for players to determine their rankings for 2024 and seed players for the next tournament. ENDS