CLASH OF THE TITANS KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND
Smash Maniacs Table-tennis Club will host the 7th edition of the annual oneday competition called ‘Clash of the Titans’ at Naledi Senior Secondary School this coming Saturday. The event will run from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening.
With over 50 of the best female and male ping-pong players already registered, athletes will out-do each other in order to improve their BTTA national rankings.
This year’s edition is dedicated to the club’s veteran and champion, Boitshwarelo Butale, who has won numerous international and local championships for Smash Maniacs Club over the course of her 25-year career.
“Mma B, as she is affectionately known, has achieved a feat worth celebrating. She has served her club and country and brought medals and joy to the table tennis family. Most importantly, she now brings hope through the Rebabonaha (R.B.B.N.H) project at Mabeleapodi village,” said Boykie Selerio, the club’s development officer and event organiser.
The competition will be divided into three categories: senior men’s and women’s singles, junior boys and girls singles, and the latest edition, mixed doubles. It will be an open tournament, which means athletes will register as individuals, unaffiliated with any club.
Athletes who won gold in the senior men and women categories will receive P900 in cash, P600 for silver, and P400 for bronze medallists, whereas gold medallists in the boys and girls under 15 categories will receive P500, P300 for silver, and P200 for bronze.
Selerio further revealed that the championship has shown tremendous growth over the years, and has been attracting some of the country’s heavy hitters, such as Botswana’s number one, Tshepiso Rebatenne, Bakang Maloka, and junior international champion, Reneilwe Lekorwe, competing to defend their titles.
“We expect a competitive tournament over this weekend as players have been active, currently competing in the BTTA Phoenix Assurance league,” concluded Selerio.