Nhabe duo clinch BNSC Indoor Sport Festival title
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday March 10, 2026 14:26
The pair of Tshepiso Rebatenne and Boago Malobela stormed to the historic title after defeating Tshireletso Samuel and Tsholofelo Gaokgalemelwe in an entertaining final that showcased the fast-paced nature of modern table tennis.
Their victory earned them P2,000 in prize money, while the runners-up walked away with P1,000, courtesy of sponsors Phoenix Assurance Botswana.
The festival, organised by the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), is a new concept on the local sporting calendar and brought together several indoor sporting codes under one roof.
Volleyball, basketball, netball, karate and judo were amongst the disciplines featured, creating a lively multi-sport atmosphere.
For its debut appearance at the festival, the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) opted for a single event — the Mixed Doubles competition and it delivered plenty of thrilling rallies and dramatic exchanges across the tables.
Rebatenne and Malobela quickly established themselves as the team to beat. Rebatenne’s sharp counter-drives and deceptive topspin blended perfectly with Malobela’s calm control and powerful forehand loops, allowing them to dictate rallies and keep opponents constantly on the back foot.
Their coordination around the table was equally impressive, rotating seamlessly during points and covering angles with precision a hallmark of elite mixed doubles play. The final proved competitive, with Samuel and Gaokgalemelwe producing moments of brilliance through quick blocks and aggressive returns. However, the Rebatenne–Malobela partnership consistently found the right angles and spin variations to close out crucial points.
Several other players also made strong impressions during the tournament. Constance Kuswani, Bakang Maloka, Tiro Lesomo and Boitlamo Nkele battled their way to the semi-finals after navigating a series of high-intensity matches, underlining the depth of talent in the local table tennis scene.
Beyond the competition itself, the event also carried a broader social message. BTTA used the Mixed Doubles format to raise awareness against gender-based violence by highlighting cooperation and respect between men and women.
Unlike singles competition where individual brilliance dominates, mixed doubles demands communication, trust and mutual support. Players must adapt to each other’s strengths, manage momentum swings and maintain composure when rallies turn unpredictable.
The festival also included a Veterans category aimed at keeping experienced players engaged in the sport. Bao Sheng Young claimed the Men’s Veterans title, while Boitshwarelo Butale topped the Women’s Veterans division ahead of Felicity Sebeso.
For Rebatenne, the victory reinforces her status as the country’s top-ranked female player after years of dominating the domestic scene. Malobela, a former national men’s number one, recently switched clubs from Smash Maniacs to Nhabe.
The pair is also familiar partners, having previously combined while representing national team, Diteemane, in international competitions.
Now reunited at club level, their victory at the festival hints at a potentially formidable partnership and one capable of causing serious trouble for opponents whenever the rallies start flying and the spin begins to bite.