Edwin ‘Tiger’ Masuge will be on the track this evening to compete in the men’s T13 400m men’s final. Masuge is in the hunt for Botswana’s first medal at the ongoing Paralympics World Championships in Paris, France.
Masuge qualified for the final after registering a season’s best (SB) of 50.50 finishing in position four. Tumo Masejane brought a personal best (PB) of 51.69 to the finish line. In another heat, Bose Mokgwathi nailed another PB of 50.89.
Ronald Rich was disqualified for lane infringement during the men’s 400m T37 semi final. Another promising athlete, Bankaetse Bonkamile who was making his debut at the World Para Championships finished in position three in the men’s T11 400m.
He clocked 56.06, failing to qualify for the semi final. T11 athletes are completely blind, his guide was Phemelo Modimakwane. Masuge is no stranger to running the final as he also qualified for the final in Tokyo. The team’s coach, Nason ‘Hadji’ Maotwe said Masuge is the last medal prospect for the team.
“He has the heart for a podium finish provided he sticks to the plan. I remain hopeful though because he has the experience and he can get the job done,” he said. Meanwhile, Lame Monamati did not qualify for the second stage of the men’s T12 400m race after posting 53.39 to finish in position three. In heat two, Keatlaretse Mabote did not proceed after finishing in position five in 53.12 in the men’s T12 400m. Stanley Matutu competed in another T12 400m men’s reaching the finish line in 55.49 to claim position four.
