The tournament starts at 8:00 am and it attracts participants aged between five and 35 years. The events will include kata and kumite. The registration fee is P250, for the elites (14 years+).There are five countries that have confirmed their attendance and they include South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Tanel Taabo from Estonia in Europe has also arrived. Taabo is the current Under 16-world karate champion. Mozambique has not yet confirmed their invitation. According to the spokesperson of Hayashi-Ha, Kaene Kago the team of Ofentse Bakwadi, Thato Malunga, Khaya Goth, Mohammed Ali Hussain, Philip Rivaka, Loagonyane Phefo and Taboka Motshewa will represent Botswana. Kago said that they have invited schools country wide, clubs and individuals to partake. He said that they expect to exceed the 350 turnouts they had last year. He added that so far some schools like Maun Senior, Francistown Senior and McConnell have confirmed their participation. The spokesperson said the main aim of the tournament is to give exposure to those individuals who are not part of the national team as they get the chance to compete with opponents from Zone 6 countries. Kago said that the tournament is in its third year but they want it to grow and include all the big countries.
The Gaborone Open will be used to select individuals who will represent the country at the Cape Town regional Hayashi ha tournament in August and the world Hayashi-Ha championships which will be held in July at Malaysia.
