Flying start for Botswana at squash WC

Botswana started off strongly in the ongoing WSF Men's World Team Squash Championship in France, beating fellow debutantes Poland 2-1 in a threeseries qualifier on Monday.

United States-based star Lekgotla Mosope thrust Botswana ahead with an 11-1, 11-4, 12-10 victory over Marcin Karwowski, but Pole Lukasz Stachowski fought back, beating Koketso Ntshebe in four games to level proceedings.It then took just 22 minutes for Botswana's number one Alister Walkerto dispatch Poland's top-ranked Wojtek Nowisz 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 to complete the country's first World Champs win."It will definitely be good for squash in Botswana and will help us get recognition from the relevant bodies," said Walker after the game. Botswana Squash Rackets Association (BSRA) president, Tiego Rabasha added the positive start will change the face of squash in the country.

"It will give them an appreciation of what squash can do for the country. And hopefully it will help us attract sponsors. Ali encouraged us to be here - and I'm glad we came."Botswana's-14 year- old Theo Pelonomi has been singled out as the youngest player ever to compete in the championship. "We hope he will benefit from exposure to squash at this level," said Rabasha. Botswana's next game was against New Zealand late tonight.New Zealand looks the strongest side in Group E, having twice finished runners up. They have been at the championships 23 times. Walker told Mmegi Sport that New Zealand would be their toughest challenge in the competition. "It's going to be tough all the way down with three world ranked players," he said.

Editor's Comment
Closure as pain lingers

March 28 will go down as a day that Batswana will never forget because of the accident that occurred near Mmamatlakala in Limpopo, South Africa. The tragedy affected not only the grieving families but the nation at large. Batswana throughout the process stood behind the grieving families and the governments of Botswana and South Africa need much more than a pat on the back.Last Saturday was a day when family members said their last goodbyes to...

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