MAGDELINE MOYENGWA QUALIFIES FOR TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS
By Katlego Mechidi
Upcoming weightlifting 20 year old sensation, Magdeline Moyengwa has qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by virtue of being the top ranked weightlifting athlete in Africa.
Her coach, Alex Rankgwe, confirmed that according to the rankings released by the World Weightlifting Federation, Moyengwa is in position one in her 59 kg category in Africa.
This development sees Botswana make a debut in weightlifting at the Olympic Games as Mandunyane-born weightlifter becomes not only the first woman but the first athlete to do so.
MAGDELINE MOYENGWA INTEREST STARTED YOUNG
Although weightlifting is not a popular sport in Botswana and Africa as whole, the 20 year old sensation Magdeline Moyengwa told the media that her interest in the sport started when she was doing form two in 2015 in a Physical Education classroom and the rest is history.
Since joining the sport, she made a significant progress as she became the first-ever athlete from Botswana to compete at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships along with Bokang Kagiso.
Even though she is the top ranked athlete in 59kg category in Africa, Moyegwa started her career competing in the 58kg category where she scooped numerous medals and among them include gold, silver and two bronze medals in her International debut during the African Youth and Junior Championships held in Uganda and three bronze medals at the 2018 Africa Youth Games held at Algeria.
Recently, she proved her mettle by snatching a bronze medal at the African Senior Championships held in Kenya.
Female sports persons are performing extremely well in commonly known “male dominated sports”, Keamogetse Kenosi did it in boxing and now is Moyengwa doing it weightlifting.
