Withdrawals reshape table tennis league
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday October 19, 2026 06:00
The latest withdrawals have forced organisers to annul an opening-week result and hand another opportunity to a player outside the elite rankings. Whilst reigning women's champion Emmah Lelatisitswe and men's contender Reneilwe Lekorwe withdrew before the competition commenced, Hetweg Chisenga became the first player to pull out after the league got underway.
The withdrawals, attributed to work, school and social commitments, have forced BTTA to reshuffle a competition designed to bring together the country's 12 highest-ranked men and 12 highest-ranked women.
The top-ranked players are given preference in the invitation-only competition, regarded as the top tier of domestic table tennis.
However, the withdrawals have opened the door for players outside the original top 12 national rankings.
Chisenga, who represented Nhabe Table Tennis Club, has been replaced by Bontleng's Makanaka Banni, with her departure directly affecting fellow Nhabe player Tshepiso Rebatenne.
Rebatenne's opening-week result against Chisenga was declared null and void, meaning her midweek encounter against Banni became her first officially recognised result of the campaign. She made a convincing start, sweeping aside her opponent 4-0.
Before the league commenced, Lelatisitswe's withdrawal had paved the way for Dithubaruba's Olorato Ramagapu, whilst Nhabe's Otsile Ramatshaba replaced Lekorwe of Smash Maniacs. The changes underline the challenge of balancing sporting ambitions with responsibilities outside the game, even amongst the country's leading table tennis players.
Meanwhile, the women's title race is gathering momentum, with BDF's Tsholofelo Gaokgalemelwe and Bontleng/Ithuteng's Boitlamo Nkele maintaining unbeaten records after three matches.
Nkele survived a seven-set thriller against Ramagapu, winning 4-3, whilst Stephney Batsholeng registered her first victory after defeating Masa Motlhabane 4-2.
Gaokgalemelwe leads the standings with six match points, level with Nkele, whilst Sibongile Six follows with five.
In the men's division, Bakang Maloka, Boago Malobela, Tirelo Tshipinare and Gofaone Dzvaka remain unbeaten after two matches each.
The league continues on Saturday at Babusi Hall, where Banni faces Motlhabane at noon before meeting Gaokgalemelwe at 3pm.
Meanwhile, the senior national team departs today (Friday, October 16) for the October 18 to 25 ITTF Africa Championships in Tangier, Morocco.
The delegation is scheduled to leave Sir Seretse Khama International Airport at 9am. The travelling squad is made up of Nkele, Batsholeng, Carol David, and Lekorwe, with Lelatisitswe serving as coach and Kabo Mosarwe as team manager.
Notably, Lelatisitswe and Lekorwe, who withdrew from the domestic league before its commencement, remain part of the continental assignment.
The Phoenix Assurance Super National League runs until March 2027, providing sustained competition for the country's elite players whilst strengthening preparations for international assignments.