Diteemane outshone in regional qualifiers

Last weekend, the regional paddlers converged at Botho University Hall in Gaborone as they chased places at the 2024 World Table Tennis Championships. Eight teams including regional heavyweights, South Africa and Angola, alongside, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and the host Botswana competed during the three-day series held from June 30 to July 2.

But on home soil, Diteemane as the national table tennis team is called, was outshone as South Africa white-washed their opponents. South Africa’s dominance was on full display as the team bagged the men’s singles, women’s singles and the team events, making it a tally of four titles. Diteemane had to settle for the bronze medal in the team events and was the third-best team in the competition behind champions South Africa and Angola. Matlhatsi, however, believes his team was at par with their opponents.