Seetso, Changanyuka headline Botswana Open
Amanda Kagiso | Saturday July 16, 2022 06:00
Action starts on Saturday and runs until Tuesday. The tournament has drawn more than 100 players from across the region. Players from Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are expected in Gaborone for the annual tournament.
However, this edition will proceed without a long-time sponsor, Motor Centre, which has bankrolled the competition for the last 15 years. The impact of COVID-19 has seen the motor dealership withdraw its support.
Botswana Tennis Association's Oaitse Thipe said the absence of the Motor Centre, while adverse, has not entirely crippled the tournament. "The tournament is not necessarily affected by the lack of sponsorship instead more players from different countries will be coming to take part in the Botswana Open," he said. Changanyuka finished as runner-up in the women's section at last year's tournament, while the winner, Tshegofatso Tsiang has since relocated and plays college tennis in Kansas in the United States.
Some of the top players to keep an eye on are Lefa Sibanda, Mark Nawa, and Seabo Saleshando while in the women's draw there are Kelebogile Monnayoo and Leungo Monnayoo. Despite the absence of a sponsor, BTA has set aside P37,000 in prize money, with the men and women's singles winners pocketing P4,500. The veterans' man and woman singles winners will take home P1,000 while the man and woman's doubles victors get P2,000. The veterans' man and woman doubles receive P1,000. The Open promises to bring all the fireworks from players who have been touring the world.