Top seeds win table tennis tourney
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday December 7, 2015 14:14
Butale had a rather challenging journey to the women’s title as she had to overcome two of country’s best in Tshepiso Rebatenne and Matshidiso Osi.
“This is one of the most difficult tournaments as you have to play the country’s best. I am happy to have won. I have been struggling with an injury so I had less time to train,” she told Monitor Sport.
Butale produced an excellent comeback in the semifinals. She trailed 2-1 in the first three sets to Rebatenne, but manged to win the game 3-2 to set up a final with Osi who beat Namibo Mbulawa 3-1 in the other semifinal.
In the finals, Osi made her intentions clear from the first serve as she put her opponent on the back foot and won the first set. She however could not do much against a rejuvenated Butale, as Butale emerged a 4-1 winner.
Mabote told Monitor Sport after the game he was better prepared for the tournament and knew his opponents’ weaknesses and that made it easy for him to overcome.
“I basically know all my opponents as we play together in the league. It might have looked hard, but it was not. I had to use some tactics to overcome my opponents,” he said.
The country’s number one ranked player, Mabote proved his worth yet again as he clinched the title. The Smash Maniacs player beat Rorisang Raesima 3-2 in the semifinals to set up a final with his fierce rival, Thobo Matlhatsi who overcame Chise Keromemang in the other semi-final. Matlhatsi came in to the final looking to redeem himself against Mabote.
The BDF table tennis player always plays second fiddle to Mabote and was looking to turn the tables around. Mabote rather dominated his opponent from the onset.
He led the first three sets 2-1. There was little Matlhatsi could do as his opponent wrapped the last two sets to win the final 4-1.
The winners walked away with P900, while the runner-up pocketed P600. The semi finalists were rewarded with P250 each for their efforts during the year-ending tournament.