mmegi

It's 'on your marks' in Budapest

Budapest-bound: The athletics teams during the send-off ceremony last week. PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Budapest-bound: The athletics teams during the send-off ceremony last week. PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

World Athletics Championships get underway in Budapest, Hungary tomorrow with a growing feeling that Botswana will finally break its medal duck at the premier athletics competition.

Africa has traditionally dominated middle-distance races but this could change in this year's edition with the emergence of sprint talent including Letsile Tebogo. Ferdinand Omanyala from Kenya, the 100m African champion, and the on-form Akani Simbine of South Africa join Tebogo.

But the continent has suffered a blow after Nigerian speedster, Godson Brume withdrew from the competition due to an injury. Local fans will focus most of their attention on Tebogo who is playing his cards close to his chest. Brume's withdrawal brightens Tebogo's medal chances. While Tebogo has remained grounded, in the back of his mind, the 20-year-old knows that the nation is banking on him for a podium finish. Tebogo will take to the starter block tomorrow at 7pm for the men’s 100m heats.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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