03 Jul 2024

Three athletes, Victor Ntweng of 400m hurdles and two 800m runners, Oratile Nowe and Tumo Nkape have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics through World Athletics ranking.

Ntweng is ranked 24 in hurdles in the world with 1 268 points while Nkape is ranked 39 with 1 237 points in 800m (men) and Nowe is at 41 with 1 232 points in 800m (women).

The trio joins Letsile Tebogo who will be competing in both 100m and 200m and 400m runners; Bayapo Ndori, Leungo Scotch and Collen Kebinatshipi as well as 800m runners, Kethobogile Haingura and Tshepiso Masalela and the 4x400m men relay team.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), vice president Oabona Theetso said they were happy that the number of athletes representing the country at the Olympics had increased. 

That alone, he said was an indication that the BAA was doing well and with more resources, they could do even better. 

He said for the first time, Botswana would send four 800m athletes to the Olympics being Haingura, Nkape and Masalela in the men’s category and Nowe who would compete in the women’s category. 

Theetso said they were happy with the inclusion of Nowe, given that she was the only woman who made it to the Paris-bound team. 

“I want to also appreciate efforts of coach, Samuel Sepeng from South Africa as four athletes, Nowe, Haingura, Nkape and Masalela were trained by him in South Africa,” he said. 

He also said another milestone, which must be acknowldged was the qualification of hurdler Ntweng as the sport was not common in Botswana. 

He added that Ntweng and his training partner, Kemorena Tisang continued to motivate other athletes to start taking hurdles. 

He said two hurdlers won two medals for the country with Ntweng winning gold and Tisang silver at the just ended CAA African Senior Athletics Championships held in Cameroon. Ends