Commonwealth Games, Youth Olympic teams return
| Friday August 29, 2014 15:10
Nijel Amos was the only shining star in Glasgow when he won a gold in the 800m, outshining Kenyan rival and World record holder, David Rudisha.
The 18member team had set a target of seven medals, but it was only Amos who had something to show for his Glasgow trip.
A lot was expected from the on-form Isaac Makwala but he was knocked out in the semi finals of the 400m after a spirited start to the competition.
He finished first in the heats but fizzled in the semi finals when he had seemingly bagged the race.
He was number one with about 20metres to go but he seemed to tire and two runners raced past.
Former world champion, Amantle Montsho appeared to regain her past season form when she started well in the heats.
However, as has become the norm, she came unstuck at a critical moment and finished fourth in the final.
But her race results have since been nullified after she was provisionally suspended for using a banned substance.
She awaits her fate after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) referred her case to the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) for an appropriate sentence.
Montsho faces a two-year ban for breaking anti-doping rules.
The young team, which left for Nanjing, China had the country’s top upcoming talent including Baboloki Thebe, Naomi Ruele and Karabo Sibanda. The young athletes shone during the Gaborone Africa Youth Games, which Botswana hosted in May.
Sibanda was the first to grab silver in the 400m while Thebe made sure the country left the competition with two medals when he won silver in the 200m.
The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) has organised a ceremony to welcome the teams at the GICC on Sunday.
There is a storm regarding the invitees for the ceremony as some athletes who took part in the Commonwealth Games were left out.
However, the BNOC is quoted in the press as saying some athletes had indicated their unavailability hence the decision to leave them out.
On the arrival of the teams, BNOC communications and marketing manager, Lame Ramokate said the Nanjing team lands at 12:35hrs tomorrow.
“As you may be aware the Nanjing team made Botswana proud by winning 2 silver medals.
To celebrate our athletes, BNOC would like to extend an invitation to the public and the media to meet and greet the athletes at the airport on Saturday.
The team is expected to arrive at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport at 12:35hrs,” she said.
“The gold medal winner at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Nijel Amos will also arrive on the same day at 1525hrs.
Other athletes from the Glasgow team are currently engaged in competition schedules in Europe, while some came back immediately after the games.”