Glory to Glody Botswana’s first Olympics Finalist
GZathletics making history by becoming takes the youngest athletes from Botswana to compete at the 22nd African Athletics Championships, while Neo Phatsima registered herself in the history books as the youngest athlete to represent Boedition On 28 July 2022, of the 22nd edition the of the Commonwealth Commonwealth The tswana team, at the Commonwealth Games, which Birmingham, Games lody officially Dube opened was the in Birmingham, first MotswaEngland, England, with more with more 15 year and one of the first old squash female Woman countries than 5,000 na athletes to reach from the competing 72 finals countries of competing the across 280 across 280 old Woman athletes to compete at the level of the Candidate team events. of Olympics. Botswana 35 has He sent achieved a team athletes of this 35 athletes at to represent to represent Woman Commonwealth Games. Candidate Letsile Tebogo age the country, 2000 Summer with an the highest Olympics, age of athlete which an athlete on the team on the team Ruth Otisitswe recorded another historic moment for the lowest were being held 47, from in Sydney, Bowling, Australia. and the lowest being Glody being Neo Phatsima Neo Phatsima Masaiti. The players the country, by becoming the youngest until 08 at 16. The August Games will run until 08 August 2022. This 2022. year’s This year’s national team after was Botswana’s middle distance runner, records games came for with notable records Botswana, for Botswana, through through World athlete to represent Athletics the country at the who Neo specialized a Squash in 800 athlete, metres. who athlete, who Phatsima, was was born born on 15 March on 15 March United World Athletics States, Championships and the multitudes 2006. The Phatsima Summer was Olympic amongst Games the multitudes are a that witnessed that witnessed Letsile breaking world Tebogo record. Birmingham, major the opening international ceremony multi- in Birmingham, sport event. registering registering herself herself not Glody emphasizes only the importance by youngest Competing in the history in books these as games the youngest is athlete almost athlete to represent to represent youngest of all sporting disciplines athlete taking adone every Botswana of athlete’s at the the games, dream and and one requires of the first first squash female squash female the athletics vantage of the current momentum to championship. of the consistency athletes to compete Commonwealth in training at the level and of the massive Commonwealth Games, Games, ( 18), creatively were spread, educate and demalso since Botswana’s first participation in 1974. The 16 year old is participation amounts in of determination. 1974. The games The 16 year old is 22nd onstrate African the importance of sport to Athletics representing the country in the women’s doubles and women’s women’s are held once every four years. doubles and women’s Saint parents Pierre, around the country. Parental Mauritius singles of Squash, together with 17 year old Leungo Katse. with 17 Through Phatsima started his year playing achievements, squash at Glody the age old of 10 at Camp Leungo Katse. makers support and involvement fall plays a key within squash is Primary at an inspiration School the in Gaborone to upcoming and in and 2016 age she joined the of 10 at Camp Z, described role in sport as it positively influences as and younger Botswana athletes. Squash in Rackets When Association he 2016 competed athlete development she joined the children’s born sporting experience. between Association at program, the Sydney which 2000, later led Australia to her athlete qualification Summer for the games. development will have enormous Glody also stresses on the signifiher qualification Olympic Other young Games, participants he had at just the completed games include 14 year old for the games. organizations have cance of building a larger pool or base the games his Anahat Botswana Singh, who General is the youngest Certificate participant include of of the Indian 14 year old Gender and Sport Africa Games. youngest contingent, participant also playing squash, and 14 year old diver, Charli of the housing rewards Indian by the government comfortability allowing Committee kids to take of athletes to choose from and feed Strategy, Secondary Education ( BGCSE) at squash, and Petrov of Australia. 14 In another year historic event, the Botswana As young old crop of Botswana diver, athletes through the Ministry Charli of Youth, Gender, part in sport and choosing sport as a structures vision as athletes upgrade from one 2028 Maun Senior Secondary School. He historic Chess Federation Senior Women event, National Team partake is competat the international the stage, Botswana Sport and Culture, in collaboration career. long- stage term to another. He gives examples athlete of Women was National ing at under the 44th the Chess tutelage Olympiad, of Coach in Chennai, Adam India, drawing with Team the from his experience and is with competthe Botswana National Sport The country registered Z. some historic The grassroots development most programs like important Olympiad, in Letham, youngest Chennai, team who to was ever also compete his mentor. at the level of the international Olympiad. India, exposure, the former neokaters2010@ Commission with gmail. and com the Botswana the Namilestones in the past days and weeks the Debswana sponsored and Re Ba Bona continuous at the Other events that level he has competed 800 of metres runner the has provided some Olympiad. tional Olympic Committee, will serve at different sporting events cohorts internationHa program and School to Sport as some come.
TAFIC
at include, the 1997 African Junior insights on how the country could as motivation for athletes. ally, with the Commonwealth Games of the important initiatives that help Championships, 1998 Commonwealth achieve worthwhile growth and retenGlody also adds that, during his days being the most recent event where build a pool. Games, 1999 World Indoor Champition of this talent in sport. there was not much awareness about history was made through Lethabo Glody Dube, who is a family man
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onships, 1999 World Championships, While Glody was the first Motswana sport and its importance, as such, most Modukanele of boxing, who has beand a well- established entrepreneur, 1999 have All- to satisfy Africa club Games, licensing From 2001 requireWorld sponsors to turn and professional page or partners are and still earn at a living United, 32 and parents we just encouraged need injection their of children to come Botswana’s first female boxer to is now a retired athlete who serves the Indoor ments, we Championships, have to move at a 2001 lightning World preliminary through stages athletics, but Dipholo he indicates said cash that to compete choose for titles,” buoyant nursing Tasponsors teaching, and or being or a win a partners medal at the Commonwealth country as a are teacher, and founder still of Championships, speed to make sure 2002 that Commonwealth all is in place he was during hopeful his that days the as negotiations an active fic Communications Manager told BG
preliminary athlete, soldier as professions. stages Games. Lethabo won but a bronze medal Dipholo the Gaborone International Meet, an said Games, before the 2003 season World starts,” Indoor Dipholo Champicould there be completed before the start of Sport. Tafic were relegated to the First he were not was many incentives in hopeful He guides that the amount of awarein that the 48Kg category of the games. In international negotiations athletics event, endorsed relayed. In their bid to transform the the season. Division in 2019/ 2020 football season onships, 2003 World Championships, comparison could to today’s, and he believes be ness drastically dwindling fortunes of the “This club has got everything, in following the outbreak completed and the of achievements coronavirus of today’s the past weeks, we before also witnessed Letby World Athletics. the start 2004 Olympic the Games and 2007 Allside, the club has been fully registered terms that the of support these base, incentives, we are season. no which differinclude pandemic, younger which forced athletes the Botswana will lead to parents’ sile Tebogo and Collen Kebinatshipi of as a company, trading as Tafic Sportent from the likes of “Township This Rollers, Football Association club ( BFA) to nullify has got everything, terms of support base, we are no different from the likes of Township Rollers, Extension Gunners and Gaborone