Rebatenne takes early table tennis lead
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday July 5, 2019 13:10
Rebatenne won the women singles in the first of the six-legged series tournaments last week Saturday in Gaborone.
BTTA president, Kudzanani Motswagole said the weekend tournament was meant to maintain the fitness level for the elite athletes since they would be engaged in many activities.
“The six series, fortnight tournaments shall be played before the main event, which will be played during Independence Day holidays,” Motswagole said.
He said the winners accumulate high rankings and prize monies as per their ratings and also put them in a good position for the national team slot, since all local tournaments are a preparation for international events.
“We host four major tournaments during Independence, Festive, Easter and President’s Day holidays and preparations for those grand slams are the fortnight tournaments,” Motswagole said.
Rebatenne told Mmegi Sport that her plan this year is to win most, if not all, local tournaments. She is targeting medals at the Region 5 and African Games.
When asked if she has strong local opposition, Rebatenne said levels have been raised of late. “There is growth and it is not easy to win like in the past few years. If you do not come prepared for the tournament, you lose,” she said.
The Nhabe Table Tennis Club member said players like Oratile Kedisaletse, Tshephang Motlhamme and Constance Kuswani have shown massive improvement and it has not been easy to play against them.
“Remember I was knocked out in the semi-finals by Kedisaletse a few weeks ago in Namibia,” she revealed. Over the weekend, Olorato Ramagapu of Smash Maniacs claimed second spot in the women’s singles. Salome Matlhatsi and Lucy Tomeletso, both from BDF, finished third.
BDF dominated the men’s singles winning the first and second positions through Tshenolo Mooketsi and Thobo Matlhatsi. Sean Dekop also from BDF and Boago Malobela from Smash shared third spot. Dekop won the boys’ Under-18 competition, with Phetso Jack and Mosupi Modibo coming second and third respectively.