Sports

School calendar to determine Lekorwe world series battle

Young talent: Lekorwe. PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG. Young talent: Lekorwe. PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG.
Young talent: Lekorwe. PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG.

The youngster recently received $1, 250 (approximately P17, 000) from the Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) Youth Grant. This comes as a result of his remarkable talent and consistent performance in the sport in local, regional, and continental competitions. The grant is specifically intended to cover costs related to the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Series and other approved events of choice for a period of one year and for only one particular tournament of choice. With the ITTF hosting at least four junior tournaments per month globally, Lekorwe is spoilt for choice. However, the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) has said they are to select a tournament in an effort to avoid a clash with the youngster’s school commitments. “He will only choose one that he will participate in. We have not yet made a decision at which one it will be. We are still looking at dates best suited for him looking at his school calendar. The sponsorship is valid for one year,” the BTTA public relations officer, Tshegofatso Malepa, told MmegiSport this week.

The ATTF Youth Grant is designed to support emerging players across the continent by easing the financial burden associated with participating in high-level international competitions and training programmes. It targets athletes who have demonstrated great potential and a commitment to excellence in table tennis. “The support will go towards official hospitality packages at competitions and/or international training camps. This initiative is crucial in helping our athletes access world-class training environments and compete at the highest levels,” said BTTA president, Kudzanani Motswagole, in a statement.

He added that Lekorwe’s selection for the grant not only reflects his individual hard work and determination but also highlights the strides Botswana is making in developing young talent in table tennis. Last year, the 13-year-old broke the local players’ record when he became the first Motswana to reach the last 16 round of a continental showpiece at the ITTF-Africa Youth Championship held in Gaborone last July. He surpassed the previous record held by Tshepiso Rebatenne. Lekorwe has dominated the local junior categories, winning numerous tournaments including the BTTA Independence Grand Finale Tournament (2021, 2022), the India@75 tournament (2021, 2022), and the Smash Maniacs Clash of the Titans U-12 Championship. Lekorwe won a silver medal at the ITTF Southern Africa Hopes Week and Challenge in Namibia in 2023 and gold at the Limpopo Table Tennis Association (LTTA) Open Tournament in January 2024.

He has also won bronze medals at the Gauteng North Open Tournament in March 2024 and the Commonwealth Championships in Gaborone in December 2024. The left-handed offensive player’s exploits did not go unnoticed by the continental mother body as he was enlisted for the Youth Grant.