Scribes battle for P1,000 in table-tennis tourney
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday May 27, 2023 06:00
The second edition of the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) Lefika Savings Account tournament will be held on June 24 at a venue to be decided.
The tournament is the latest entrant in the impressive BTTA calendar and the First Capital Bank powers it through its product, the Lefika Savings Account as an elite Star Contender tournament at a tune of P15,000. The first edition was held in March 11, 2023.
There is excitement ahead of the second edition of the tournament as the BTTA has introduced a media category. The competition will allow local sports journalists to put their ping-pong skills on trial with P1,000 at stake.
It is free entry in the media category as the BTTA echoes inclusivity of local media in their tournaments. The BTTA’s public relations officer, Tshegofatso Malepa said the aim is to give journalists a chance to go through a paddler match day experience and eventually have a feel of the sport at the highest level of competition in the country.
“We are trying to be inclusive looking at the fact that journalists are always there to cover the events (but) they really do not engage in the action as such this tournament will give them a feel of what the game is like. Registration is free.
You just need to have your playing gear,” Malepa said. The Lefika Savings Account tournament is a breather to the stretching BTTA Super League that is nearing its mid point. The tournament will also add to the national team, Diteemane final preparations ahead of the ITTF Southern Africa Region World Championship qualifiers to be held in Gaborone in late June.
Local ping-pong players are, however, required to pay at least P150 to register for the seniors’ section and P100 for the Under-13’s section. There is P3,000 as the winners’ prize money, while runners-up will take home P1,000. Third place finish will guarantee P500 in each category. The finalists in the media category will get a P500 reward.
The Lefika Savings Account tournament is a BTTA rankings tournament and sparks are expected to fly as the BTTA approaches its mid-season and the battle for top spots intensifies.