BoBA blames poor preparations
The Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) has blamed poor preparations after local pugilists returned empty-handed from the women’s World Boxing Championships in India.
As the richest women’s boxing competition draws to a close in Delhi, Botswana’s representatives are already preparing to board the plane back home without any medals. Botswana had sent three boxers to the tournament which ends on Saturday.
A total prize money of $2.4 million (approximately P30 million) was on offer, but local boxers spurned the chance as they want out in the early rounds.
Gold medallists are guaranteed a cheque of $100,000 (about P1.3 million), while silver medal winners go home with $50,000 and bronze goes with $25,000.
The highest pay cheque a local woman boxer received was P126,000 which was pocketed by Sadie Kenosi who won gold at the Africa Championships held in Maputo last year.
BoBA secretary-general, Taolo Tlouetsile said local boxers could have done well with better preparations and funding.
“The team didn’t prepare well due to financial constraints. We had no funds to send the team and luckily IBA (International Boxing Association) rescued us through their new programme called Financial Support Programme,” Tlouetsile said.
He said the team’s performance was not bad considering the circumstances.
Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Lethabo Modukanele was the best-performing local boxer
after she was knocked out in the quarterfinals. She lost to Vietnamese boxer, Nguyen Thi Tam in the 48-50kg division with a score of 5-0. Modukanele had beaten Duwal Asmita of Nepal 5-0 in the first round.
Debutant, Phekie Bele marginally lost to an opponent from Mongolia.
“Considering all factors, one would say the performance was not bad. Bele, who was playing her first World Championships, lost by a split decision to Mongolia; Lethabo won against Nepal and lost at the quarters,” Tlouetsile said.
The third boxer, Aratwa Kasemang
lost 5-0 to Ivanusa Moreira Gomes of Cape Verde in the 66kg division, her first match.
He said the absence of local competitions meant the boxers went to India without the much-needed momentum.
“So far, local tournaments have not started, which ordinarily assist boxers with the much-needed training and competition,” he said.
“IBA men World Championships are in May. We hope things would have improved,” he added.
The team is expected back on Monday.