Olympics boxers start intensive training

MOGOMOTSI MOLOI
Correspondent | Thursday May 8, 2008 00:00

 

BoBA spokesman Willough Kemoen said the sensational Khumiso Ikgopoleng (54kg) and Thato 'Hands of Stone' Batshegi (57kg) will be in camp till August when the Olympic Games take place. The boxers started camping on Monday. Kemoen said the camp will be interrupted by a number of international competitions where the pugilists are expected to take part. Botswana National Olympics Committee (BNSC) has sponsored the training camp and the boxers' trips abroad. On 20 May, the boxers fly to Taiwan to participate in a pre-Olympics tournament from 24 May to June 2.

Kemoen stated that the tournament is strictly for boxers who have qualified for the Olympics. 'This pre-Olympics tournament is meant to introduce boxers to the Olympic style. They would battle with the same calibre of opponents they would meet in the main event,' he explained. Ikgopoleng is making his second appearance at Olympics but Batshegi is a debutant. 

From Taiwan, the two boxers will head to Cuba for training. Cuba is a world boxing powerhouse and a favourite training ground for many top boxers.

'We expect top boxers to camp there and hopefully our boys would leave the country armed with experience for the Olympics,' Kemoen said. From Cuba, the Botswana boxers go straight to Seychelles to take part in a tough annual tournament dubbed the President's Cup. They return home in July to join the team that is expected to defend the Zone VI Championships in Swaziland. Kemoen said the international tournaments, coupled with sound preparations will put the boxers in good stead to do better at the Olympics. 'We are very happy with the current development in our code. A number of young boxers are coming up and they will surely give these established ones a run for their money,' said Kemoen.

Meanwhile, a three-day BoBA referees and judges' course starts today at Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) conference hall. The course is expected to attract 15 participants. It is facilitated by BoBA's Cuban technical director Leo Viciedo Domeguez and Healer Modiradilo, BoBA technical officer.