No medal ceremony for Relay teams
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday March 25, 2024 15:48
Botswana men snatched silver medal in the 4x400m relay while the women settled for bronze medal. According to information reaching SportMonitor, an inquiry was made to the Games Local Organising Committee (LOC) regarding the medals.
"We tried to ask why there was no medal ceremony for the relay teams on Friday and also wanted to know where the medals are.
There was no convincing answer from the LOC. They simply told us that the medals will be sent to Botswana, which is a surprise to us," a source said. The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president, Moses Bantsi said he was not part of the team delegation. He referred the issue to the team manager, Keamogetse Rancholo.
The Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) communication manager, Anderson Nlisana confirmed to SportMonitor that there were no medals for relay teams. "Yes, team Botswana 4x400m men and 4x400m women teams have not received their medals. We have engaged with the LOC and it has been agreed that the medals will be shipped to Botswana once they have been prepared. It seems to us that there was a shortage of medals and this is why all teams, even from other countries (gold, silver and bronze) in these events did not receive their medals," he said.
Botswana men’s 4x400m relay team has been dethroned as African champions. The team comprising Collen Kebinatshipi, Leungo Scotch, Boitumelo Masilo and Bayapo Ndori settled for the second position stopping the clock in 2.59.32 to bring home silver medal and increased the number of medals the country won at the Games to 13.
The Zambians anchored by the flying Muzala Samukonga stole Botswana’s victory on the finish line, with a blistering speed to set new African Games record of 2.59.12. The bronze medal went to Nigeria after registering a time of 3.01.84. During the semi-final, Botswana team easily sailed through posting a season’s best (SB) of 3.05.44.
The win brought so much joy to the nation and there was hope that they would be able to defend their title. Head coach, Thatayaone Lefatshe, made some changes to the team during the final, taking out Omphile Seribe, replacing him with Masilo, giving Kebinatshipi the responsibility of being the first leg, Scotch switched from the anchor in the final to third leg. Ndori anchored the team in the final. The women’s 4x400m relay team finished in third position for a bronze medal with a time of 3.33.44 with Zambia claiming a silver medal and setting a national record (NR) in 3.31.85 and Nigeria continued with their brilliant performance in relays, becoming champions in a time of 3.27.29. Botswana had fielded Thomphang Basele, Lydia Jele, Obakeng Kamberuka and Oratile Nowe (anchor). Congo Brazzaville, Kenya and Uganda did not start the relay.
Victor Ntweng scooped a silver medal in the men’s 400m hurdles in a time of 49.38 while Kemorena Tisang stole the bronze medal after a brilliant dip on the finishing line in a time of 50.09. Speaking after the race, Tisang said he was excited about his achievement because it is a result of hard work. “I and Ntweng trained hard for this competition.
The final was not easy, the last 30 meters was tough, I had to push myself and the results are an indication of that,” he said. For his part, Ntweng said it has been a long road, having started training in October. He said hurdles is not a common sport in Botswana but they wanted to encourage upcoming athletes that it is possible.
Tumo Nkape brought home a bronze medal for the men’s 800m race while 4x400m mixed relay (Jele, Kebinatshipi, Ndori and Scotch) scooped silver. Tsaone Sebele competed with a tough field in the women’s 200m final finishing in position five with a time of 23.76. In field events, Thapelo Monaiwa missed out on reaching the long jump final qualification mark of 7.80 and finished in position 13, just a whisker away from the cut-off of the best 12 jumpers, after he sprung to 7.29. Tshwanelo Aobobe powered to a 2.19 jump in the men’s high jump to claim position four, missing out on the podium finish. In other sporting codes, basketball 3*3 missed out on podium finishing in position four.
Taekwando team of Kitso Kula and Karabo Kula lost 25-125 to Nigeria. Keamogetse Sadie Kenosi settled for a bronze medal, a decline from her 2019 performance when she became African Champion in the 57kg category, an outcome that saw her punching her ticket to Tokyo 2020. Other medals were won by taekwando (Karabo Kula), swimming and karate teams. Overall, Botswana finished in position 32 with three silver medals and 10 bronze medals. Egypt raked 191 medals to finish in position one with 102 gold medals, 47 silver and 42 bronze. Nigeria claimed the second spot with 121 medals (47 gold, 34 silver and 40 bronze) while the third position went to South Africa with 106 medals (32 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze).