Maloka, Lelatisitswe clinch BDF Open
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday June 30, 2026 11:16
The tournament, hosted by BDF Table Tennis Club, attracted some of the country's finest players and delivered thrilling contests across the senior and junior categories. During the competition, Maloka reaffirmed his status as Botswana's leading men's player after overcoming a stern challenge in the semi-finals before producing a dominant display for the final. The BDF star was pushed to the limit by teammate, Mompati Chabe, in a gripping all-BDF semi-final that went the full five sets. Showing his experience under pressure, Maloka edged the contest 3-2 to book his place in the championship match. He carried that momentum into the final, where he faced another BDF teammate, Tshireletso Samuel.
However, Maloka was at his clinical best, cruising to a convincing 3-0 victory to retain the title and further strengthen his reputation as the country's benchmark player. The women's competition produced equally exciting action, with Nhabe Table Tennis Club's Lelatisitswe overcoming two difficult opponents on her way to the title. She first battled past BDF's Tsholofelo Gaokgalemelwe in a pulsating semi-final that went long. After an intense five-set encounter, Lelatisitswe held her nerve to secure a 3-2 victory and advance to the final. In the championship match, she met Boitlamo Nkele of Bontleng in another entertaining contest featuring long rallies and tactical exchanges. Lelatisitswe proved too strong, winning 3-1 to lift the women's singles trophy. In addition to the title and prize money, Lelatisitswe also received a complimentary recovery massage sponsored by Ndigra Raw Holistic Wellness Spa in recognition of her achievement.
The seventh edition of the tournament also offered competitions for Under-19 and Under-12 boys and girls, underlining BDF Table Tennis Club's commitment to developing the sport across all age groups. Senior singles champions received trophies and P2,000 in prize money, with runners-up earning P1,200 and losing semi-finalists taking home P600 each. Under-19 champions walked away with trophies and P1,500, while medals were awarded in the Under-12 category.
Sponsored by Dikwata Insurance Agency, the tournament was supported by Ndigra Raw Holistic Wellness Spa, Wellyn Investments, the Botswana Table Tennis Association, STAG Global and Phoenix of Botswana Assurance Company. For Maloka, the successful title defence further cemented his dominance on the domestic circuit, while Lelatisitswe's triumph highlighted her resilience after surviving two demanding knockout matches to be crowned champion.