Leader of Team Botswana at the 2025 World Athletics Relays, Justice Dipeba, says it will be difficult for the country to retain the men’s 4x400m World Athletics Relays title as his athletes target World Championship berths following withdrawal of key figures.
Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi played a vital role in Botswana’s first ever win at the World Athletics Relays in the 2024 edition. However, the trio will play no part in the title defence. This has resulted in Team Botswana lowering expectations before the first starter pistol goes off tomorrow. “It is going to be a mountain to climb (task) and it is not going to be easy for the young boys to defend the title. The young boys will give their best to do whatever they can in order for them to qualify for the World Championships and this is the objective right now,” Dipeba told MmegiSport on Friday from China.
“The target is for the teams to be in a good position to qualify for the World Championships. So, that is what we are looking at that is what we are focusing on.” Despite the dark cloud ahead of the China competition, the Team Botswana head stated the team is confident and is looking forward to compete. He said there is no doubt that is a tough assignment but presents a perfect opportunity for the less experienced sprinters to step up. “It is time for them to step up and be able to perform, and be able to show us what they can do. We are very excited also to see what they can do as a team, as young athletes who are up and coming. We want to see them growing, we want to see them competing at the highest level. “We want to see them selling themselves in terms of performance. You know, to see what they can do on the world stage and that is very important,” said Dipeba.
Team Botswana targets a top 14th finish at the World Athletics Relays in a bid to book spot at the World Championships to be held later this year in Tokyo, Japan. The team is to compete in the men’s 4x400m, women’s 4x400m, mixed 4x400m and the men’s 4x100m relays. “All in all I think our teams are ready. So all those teams are ready, all those teams are ready to step on the track on Saturday and Sunday and be able to perform. So we will be able to deliver our best and do all we can in order for us to make it to the world championships,” he added. The 2025 World Athletics Relays get underway tomorrow in Guangzhou, China.
