Youth Games table tennis stars gauge readiness
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday March 28, 2014 15:49
The two are part of a team of eight youngsters hoping to make the final four-member team that will represent the country at the Africa Youth Games (AYG) in May.
Thebe has proven himself a frontrunner for the boys’ slot after sterling performance at the Confederation of Southern African Table Tennis Associations Zone Six games in Zambia early last month. He also had an impressive play at the Rustenburg tournament last weekend.
He is tipped as ping pong’s brightest prospect and will be hoping to consolidate that when he plays in the club champ this weekend.
Olorato Ramagapu, who was also given a run against senior opponents at the Zone Six tournament, will be in action. Her finest performance came at the Rustenburg tournament a fortnight ago when she came third in the competition.
She has shown lots of potential and stands out as the best girl to represent the country in the sport. Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) public relations officer, Lilly Mokhupuki said they expected the youngsters to gauge their readiness using the tournament.
“Among the competitors will be the junior players who are expected to gear up for the 2nd Africa Youth Games,” Mokhupuki said.
The youngsters will face players from clubs like Smash Maniacs, BDF, Nhabe, Dithubaruba, New Horizon, Kanye and Kings of Smash. Each club will be allowed to register as many teams as they wish. The defending champions in both categories are the fierce Smash Maniacs Table Tennis Club with Nhabe and BDF Table Tennis clubs in second position in the men and women categories, respectively.
The club championship is a closed and exciting in-house tournament for BTTA’s seven registered affiliates inclusive of any person of any nationality affiliated to any of the clubs.
This tournament, sponsored by Celiat Construction, shall consist of team men’s singles and team ladies singles, using the pool and double knockout system. ITTF rules and regulations shall be applicable. The clubs are all expected to battle it out for the top spot in both the men and women categories.