More gold expected from athletics
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday December 14, 2018 12:33
Edwin Masuge won gold in T13 400m races while Bose Mokgwathi clocked 52:20, which is his personal best (PB) in T12. The brilliant performance brought Botswana gold medals to five before lunchtime. Athletics won the first gold medal on Wednesday in the 1,500m through Tshepiso Masalela.
Volleyball boys team were the first to bring gold home and not to be outdone, James Freeman scooped the only gold for swimming in the 400m freestyle.
By the time of going to press, in total, Botswana also had 11 silver and 21 bronze. The team’s chef de mission, Boitumelo Moagi said she was impressed by the performance of the team.
“It has been a bumpy road at the beginning, but now it is all hands on deck. Remember that even our training camps were not that spot on, but we did not allow that to dampen our spirits. We intend to pass Angola in the medal table,” she said.
Angola is in position two while Botswana was in third position by Thursday. Moagi said they expect athletics to win more gold medals in the remaining events especially relays that gets underway today.
She said it was exciting to win medals in field events. Botswana scooped bronze medal in 110 hurdles and high jump. Moagi said it is an indication that if given more attention, there is hope in field events.
Meanwhile, she said they expect boxing to step up to the plate and win medals. South Africa continued to show other countries dust. By Tuesday, they were leading the pack with 92 medals (46 gold, 42 silver and four bronze).
Zambia was in position four with 10 medals (three gold, one silver and six bronze); Mozambique was in sixth position with four medals (two gold and two bronze). Zimbabwe was seventh with one gold medal, two silver and 20 bronze medals. Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Malawi were still to win a gold medal.