TEAM BOTSWANA: THE FULL LIST OF NAMES FOR THE TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS

BY: Rapalai Calystus

Team Botswana will be hoping for more Olympic medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics since the country have sent more athletes more than any other time since inception of the country`s participation at the games in 1980 Mosow Olympics.

Team Botswana has sent a team alongside 16 delagates to the much anticipated Olympics, 14 athletes from four different sports codes (field and track, boxing, swimming and weight lifting), and the management team which will be led by Raymond Phale.

FIELD AND TRACK

ISAAC MAKWALA

The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist who specializes on 400 m will lead the team with the experience he have. Isaac Makwala recorded a time of 44.66 seconds at the Botswana Athletics Association National Champions which were held in Gaborone in order to qualify for Olympics.Makwala will be partaking in both hs traditional individual 400 m and 4 X400 m relay team.

NIJEL AMOS

Nijel Amos remain the only athlete from Botswana to win an Olympic medal having secured silver in the men’s 800 m at London 2012 Olympics. The 27 years old Marobela born will be hoping to add more on the one he already pocketted after qualifying for Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

LEUNGO SCOTCH

The 24 years old Kareng born 400 m sprinter became popular after clinching male sports personal of the year, national team of the year 4×400 relay and sports person of the year awards at the 40th Botswana Sports Awards. Leungo Scotch qualification for Tokyo 2020 Olympics comes by the virtue of being number 30 in the newly released world rankings of 2021that dictates that top 48  athletes will feature at the games.Scotch is part of 4 X40 m relay team.

ZIBANI NGOSI

The 29 years old 400 metre runner gained his first experience in international championships at the Africa Games in 2019 at Rabat, where he won the gold medal in the Botswana 4×400m relay. Zibani Ngosi qualified after winning Lefika Athletics Club race with a time of 45.13, Botswana’s 400 m Olympic trial, the winner takes it all, as the top three are guaranteed to join the already individually qualified Isaac Makwala and Leungo Scotch to make up a 4×400 relay team.

ANTHONY PESELA

Rising star Anthony Pesela has been included in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics men’s 4×400m relay team. The Maun BDF Athletics club member was slotted into the team after he had a good season in the last Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) track and field series in Francistown.

BAYAPO NDORI

The 22 years old 400 metres athlete from Tutume who is said to emulate Makwala, the Tutume natives and many other Batswana in love with athletics may need not to worry about who shall take the baton from their celebrated champion Isaac Makwala. Bayapo Ndori qualified by clocking 45.38 seconds at the Botswana Athletics track and field.

BABOLOKI THEBE

The 24 years old Botswana track and field sprinter who specializes in the 400m is also part of the 2020 Olympics team after he was selected for 4×400 metres relay team. The 2014 silver medalist in the 200m at the Summer Youth Olympics will represent the country once more at a bigger stage.Baboloki Thebe is set to make his debut appearance at the Olympics

CHRISTINE BOTLOGETSWE

The 26 years old Rakops, Botswana sprinter competes primarily in the 400m. She competed at the 2016 Olympics. Botlogetswe finished in position one recording a time of 53.69 seconds in 400m at the Botswana Athletics track and field, and qualified for Olympics.

AMANTLE MONTSHO

She is a Motswana female sprinter who specializes in the 400m, she is also the first woman to represent Botswana at the Olympics. The 38 years old sprinter qualified for Tokyo 2020 after 51.23 seconds at Botswana Athletics Association(BAA) track and field event which were held at the National Stadium.

GALEFELE MOROKO

Galefele Moroko is a sensational female sprinter who runs 400m. She competed in the Women’s 4×400 metres relay at the 2017 World Championship in Athletics. Galefele qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after clocking 51.30 seconds in Women’s 400 metres final to win Gold at the 12th Africa Games at Rabat, Morocco.She is also Botswana sports awards Sportswoman of the Year receipient.

BOXING

KEAMOGETSE KENOSI

The 23 years old female boxer Keamogetse Kenosi made history after she dominated Moroccan boxer Bertal Widad  in the semi finals of Africa Olympic qualification tourney hosted at Senegal in 2019. She became the first woman boxer in Botswana to ever qualify for the Olympics, and first boxer in the world to qualify for Tokyo 2020. She will be competing in a feather weight category (52-54 kg).

RAJAB OTUKILE MOHAMMED

Rajab Mohammed, the 24 years old 12th Africa Games Champion easily sailed through to book a spot at the Olympics and make it to Team Botswana since the top two ranked boxers in Africa automatically qualify for Tokyo 2020, he is ranked number three in Africa.

SWIMMING

JAMES FREEMAN

The 200m and 400m freestyle swimmer will also be part of the team which will represent the nation at the Tokyo 2020.James Freeman has managed to set a remarkable 12 national Botswana swimming records, currently he holds every individual freestyle, butterfly and medley record for his home country, as well as having swam the anchor leg of the record setting of 4×100 freestyle relay at the CANA ZONE IV CHAMPIONSHIP.

WEIGHT LIFTING

MAGDELINE MOYENGWA

Botswana female weightlifter Magdeline Moyengwa qualified for the Olympics following being ranked in the first position on the rankings released by the World Weight Lifting Federation in the 59 kg category in Africa. The 20 year old initially snatched Batswana’s attention when she became the first female lifter from the country to compete at an International weight lifting federation (IWF) World Championship. She is also the first to represent Botswana in the category of Weight lifting at Olympics.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic games are sloted to take place from 23rd July to 08 August 2021 at Tokyo, Japan.