Zone VI table tennis tourney cancelled

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Thursday October 28, 2010 00:00

Zone VI secretary general Game Mothibi said the country would not host the competition after the Malawi Table Tennis president died in August. She added that Namibia was on standby but it will not be possible to host the competition because the Malawi announcement came rather late.

Elections for a new Zone VI committee were supposed to be held during the tournament. Mothibi said the cancellation is a blow to Botswana as it would have been an opportunity for local players to showcase their talent. She explained that it is not easy for Batswana athletes to take part in international competitions like the Africa Championships and Commonwealth Games if they do not have exposure at regional competitions like the Zone VI.

Mothibi said the competition would have afforded table tennis players an opportunity to improve their game further. Mothibi said in the past the Zone VI competitions flopped as countries failed to send representatives citing financial constraints.

Prior to this year's cancellation, the competition had been held for three consecutive years.

Mothibi said there was nothing the Zone VI committee could do to help struggling countries as the mother body has no funding sources. 'It was only last year in South Africa that we had a good number of participating countries,' Mothibi said. Mothibi expressed worry at the uncertainty over the competition, which tarnishes the image of Zone VI.