Top stars excused from Commonwealth Games
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday July 13, 2026 06:00
The athletes have been excused from the games as they are competing in the Diamond League Meet circuits and also preparing for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship that takes place in Budapest, Hungary, from September 11 to 13. The Commonwealth Games team reported for camp on Wednesday in Gaborone. Athletics Commonwealth Games team coach, Collar Mosimakoko, told MmegiSport the concerned individual athletes' coaches requested they be excluded from the squad.
He explained that this might be that the coaches are trying to manage the load for the season because of the Ultimate Championship, which they cannot miss because the competition is at the same level as the World Athletics Championships.
Meanwhile, Mosimakoko said the athletics team is in perfect shape ahead of the Commonwealth Games. For his part, Judo coach Rene William Matike Ndoumbe revealed his team is also gearing up for the competition. He noted that they are in the preparation process and next week they will move into specific phases until the games.
According to Ndoumbe, Judo had a team that competed at the Birmingham 2022 Games.
Botswana will also be represented by a boxing team that will travel to Zambia for a week-long training camp. Boxing president, Dirang Thipe, said he has set a target of two medals for his boxers whilst the Botswana National Olympic Committee’s goal is seven medals for the entire team. Swimming team coach, Matthew Gibson, said the squad is hard at work as they enter the final weeks of preparation ahead of the Games.
He added Adrian Robinson is currently based at the World Aquatics Training Centre in Antibes, France, which is regarded as one of the world’s premier aquatic training environments. “Robinson will compete in the 50m and 100m breaststroke; he has benefited enormously from access to world-class facilities and coaching expertise in the south of France,” Gibson said.
“He is now well into his taper phase, with training volumes being carefully managed to ensure he arrives in Glasgow in peak condition and ready to perform on the biggest stage. Maxine Egner continues her preparations at her training base in Sweden, where she has been putting in the hard yards in the build-up to what promises to be an exciting Games campaign.” He added that Egner, who will contest in the 50m and 100m freestyle, is equally progressing well through her taper and is on track to be at her very best when the competition begins.
Gibson said both swimmers have made the deliberate and strategically considered decision to remain at their respective training bases until just days before the Games begin, allowing them to complete their taper programmes in familiar, controlled environments before making the short journey to Glasgow. “Swimming and Para Swimming competitions at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre are set for July 24 to 29, giving Robinson and Egner a tight, well-planned window to arrive, acclimatise and compete,” Gibson stated. Botswana Bowling Association (BBA) executive secretary, Edwin Nyoka, said the bowls team is gearing up for the Glasgow competition.
He stated that the team held a week-long training camp in April and it will be followed by another camp which started on Wednesday and runs until July 10 before the bowlers jet off to Glasgow.
During the last edition of the Games, the women’s team finished in the quarter-finals in the Fours section.
Team Botswana:
Athletics: Prince Selepe (100m,200m), Justice Oratile (200m), Lee Bhekempilo Eppie (400m), Oratile Nowe (800m), Kennekae Batisani (400m), Boitshepiso Kelapile (100m), Tshepiso Masalela (1 mile), Kemorena Tisang (400m), Kethobogile Haingura (800m), Obakeng Kamberuka (400m), Naledi Monthe (400m), and Tshegofatso Bojosi (Long Jump). Olebogeng Phirinyane (team manager)
Boxing: Lethabo Modukanele (51kg female), Treasure Moremi (60kg male), O’dean Lessau (sparring partner) and Gift Modise (57kg female). Choga Ntoti (men's head coach) and Grace Mmolai (female head coach and team manager)
Judo: Botho Babutsi (-48kg female), Tumiso Phuthego (-60kg male), Neelo Modise (sparring partner), and Tresh Kgosietsile (sparring partner)
Swimming: Adrian Robinson (50m and 100m breaststroke), Maxine Egner (50m and 100m freestyle) and Matthew Gibson (coach and manager)
Bowling: Boikhutso Mooketsi (Singles and Pairs, Skip), Modisaotsile Mphotho (Singles and Pairs, Lead), Gaoromelwe Pelemo (Pairs, Skip), Sebathu Sinombe (Pairs, Lead), Charles Diteko (Pairs, Skip), Binkie Gaborutwe (manager), and Baven Balendra (coach).