Speaking to Mmegi Sport yesterday, BABA Secretary General Marx Nthusang said that they are expecting the likes of Thato Batshegi (57kg), Gomotsang Gaasite (60kg), Herbert Nkabiti (64kg) and Moabi Mothibi (69kg) to qualify.
"The experience and the exposure they have should be an advantage to them and we expect them to make it to the Olympics," he said. While Khumiso Ikgopoleng became the only boxer to qualify for the Olympics, Batshegi, Gaolatlhe Mpotsang and Nkabiti could not make it at the last qualifiers in Algeria as they were knocked out in the preliminary stages. Ikgopoleng qualified after he beat his South African opponent, Joseph Mhlongo in the 54kg bracket. He will be representing the country for the second time at the Olympics. Nthusang said that the performances of the Olympics hopefuls were satisfactory over the weekend in the Best of Best tournament held at the University of Botswana (UB). It is also expected that exciting boxers Bathusi Mogajane (48kg) and Kgomotso Bok will also want to represent the country in Beijing. The next Olympics qualifiers are scheduled to take place in Namibia next month. He said that though the Namibia qualifiers are the last chance for the local boxers to book tickets to Beijing, he is hopeful that they will have an advantage since Namibia is a neighbouring country. "It will be more like a home advantage to us," he said.
