It is four out of eight

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Wednesday October 13, 2010 00:00

The 4 x 400m relay teams (men and women) held the country's hopes for more medals to add to the four already won but it was a day of disappointment when so much was expected.

The women's relay team came seventh, only ahead of Uganda, which was later disqualified from the race. Despite starting on a favourable lane six, the team made up of Lydia Mushila, Kgalalelo Sefo, Oarabile Babolai and Amantle Montsho never showed signs of winning a medal.

The gap between the runners and their opponents increased after every baton exchange. Even the presence of the new Commonwealth Games 400m record holder, Montsho, was not enough to inspire the team to glory. All eyes then shifted to the men's team, which was impressive in the run-up to the final.

The team started in lane nine and Sakarea Kamberuka managed to hold on to the lead until the final steps when a poor baton change proved fatal.

Kamberuka and Gakologelwang 'Shoes' Masheto fumbled the baton handover and allowed other teams to take charge. This forced Masheto to make up for lost time. The Botswana runners kept in touch with the leading group with position three and a medal a distinct possibility. However, in the final lap Obakeng Ngwigwa could not make it.

The team eventually finished a disappointing fifth.

The loss by the relay teams now means that Botswana cannot reach the eight medals target. So far, Botswana has four medals - one gold and three bronze.

Montsho won the country's first gold medal on Friday, then high jumper Kabelo Kgosiemang followed with a bronze.

The other bronze medals came from boxers, Oteng Oteng and Tirafalo Seoko who lost their semi-final bouts on Monday.

The boxing team started very well keeping a 100 percent record in the first three bouts but faltered along the way as seasoned pugilists Mmoloki Nogeng and Moabi Mothiba tasted defeats.

Early yesterday, the Mascarenhas, Lebogang and Raymond lost their lawn bowls singles matches.

Despite failing to reach the eight-medal target, the team can still walk tall after winning the first ever-gold medal at the games which end tomorrow.

The Botswana team is expected back home on Saturday. A welcome ceremony will be held for the team at Annex Hall, Fairgrounds in Gaborone.