Saleshando delivers two medals at Africa Youth Games
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday December 16, 2025 08:04
The athlete, who is Propellers Swimming Club member, won a silver medal in the women’s 50m butterfly and settled for a bronze medal in the women’s 50m back stroke medal. Saleshando together with her club members who are also in Luanda, being Leruo Bakwena and Tema Modirelabangwe are earmarked for the Summer Youth Olympic Games 2026 to be held in Dakar, Senegal.
She finished in position five in the 100m freestyle, clocking a new Personal Best (PB) of 1:01.10 and another PB of 2:19.98 in the 200m freestyle.
Modirelabangwe was disqualified (DQ) for the 200m freestyle for a false start. He later clocked 27.72 earning a reserve position for the final.
Propellers coach, Solomon Mpusetsang said Saleshando’s performance which led her to scooping two medals is a sign of hard work and focus.
He said the swimmer shows that she has the mental strength of competing in the big stage, hence she was fighting for a gold medal in the 50m butterfly.
Bakwena delivered consistent swims, clocking 28.62s in the 50m butterfly and 2:16.67 in the boys 200m freestyle.
Another swimmer, Matipaishe Gondo recorded a new personal best (PB) of 1:22.57 in the 100m breaststroke, qualifying for the final, and also competed in the 50m butterfly, posting 32.55s.
Her club coach, Gondo Gondo said Matipaishe pushed hard at the competition, which was her first continental competition. He said for the swimmer to deliver a PB and made the final is an indication of a promising future.
For the first time in a long time, athletics team struggled to secure medals at the continental competition. Kopano Masau finished in position seven clocking 2:08.02s in the boys’ 800m.
Bokang Isang also settled for position seven in the boys’ 200m recording 23.02s. Nonofo Ralecha finished in position four in the girl’s 200m, clocking 28.50s, failing to reach the final.
The girls medley relay finished fourth with a time of 2:24.09s while the boys team settled for position five registering 2:02.25s. The Beach volleyball boys team was walloped 2-0 by Namibia in the last 16 battle, scoring 21-18, 21-9.
Botswana team is also competing in Weightlifting, Basketball, Equestrian, Table Tennis, Judo, Tennis, Boxing, Fencing and Badminton.
Angola becomes the first Lusophone country to host Africa Youth Games, which comes to an end on Saturday.
This major continental multi-sport event brought together up to 54 African nations and young athletes aged 14-17 in approximately 33 sports disciplines.