Slow Start For BOTESSA Team In Taipei

Naledi Lemogang | Monday August 28, 2017 15:30

The games, organised by the Federation International University Sport, started on Monday and have attracted more than 142 countries.

Botswana sent 18 athletes to compete in athletics, badminton, table tennis and tennis. BOTESSA spokesperson Duncan Segabo told Monitor Sport from Taipei that the team did not do well in the 100m, 200m and 400m races on Wednesday. He, however said Tsaone Sebele qualified for the second round but failed to reach the semi finals after finishing fourth in women’s 100m. Nthabiseng Mogopodi won her first game against Sri-Lanka in tennis, but later lost her second game against Thailand. “We did not do well in the 100m, 400m and 200m as our athletes failed to reach the final. On Friday, 200m runners Ditiro Sebele, who is the FISU record holder in the men’s section, and Tsaone Sebele failed to complete their 200m races due to injuries,” Segabo said.

He said Ditiro, who is also the team captain, is receiving medical attention but did not take part in the relay race as he was advised to rest. In the women 4x100m relays Team Botswana failed to qualify for the next round. In badminton singles, Botswana (Tefo Kabomo and Tumisang Olekantse) proceeded to round two. In the triple jump event on Saturday, Chilume Titose did her personal best of 13.59m but unfortunately did not qualify for the next round.

“The level of competition is high as the games are the second largest in the world after the Olympics. We believe that our athletes and the technical teams that is here would gain a lot of experience from what we have seen happening especially that we would be hosting the Confederation of University and College Sport Association (CUCSA) games next year,” he said.

The athletes are with their respective coaches and the president of BOTESSA. The games end on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, BOTESSA league is ongoing in preparation for the ball games championships. The codes include soccer, volleyball, basketball, netball, softball, among others. Bracket A consist of colleges of education and institute of health sciences, while bracket B is for all universities and other private institutions and bracket C is technical colleges.