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Botswana: Batshegi Qualifies for Olympics
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
31 March 2008
Posted to the web 31 March 2008
Mogomotsi Moloi
Thato 'Hands of Stone' Batshegi has become only the second Botswana boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games. Batshegi was the only man left standing after five compatriots were felled during the Olympic qualifiers held in Namibia last week.
The 57kg fighter booked a ticket to Beijing, when he overcame Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South African opponents by 10-5 and 7-2 respectively. On Saturday, the Dinotshi (Jwaneng) Boxing Club boxer was waiting for the final fight against a Kenyan opponent. But the bout made no difference as he has already secured his Olympic ticket.
He joins Khumiso Ikgopoleng (54kg) who qualified last month at qualifiers in Algeria. While Batshegi, the Zone VI champion making a debut at the Olympics, Ikgopoleng is in his second outing.
The Olympic debutant is a very agile boxer with speed and power. He has always excelled in international competitions though he is going to the Olympics for the first time.
Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) publicity secretary Willough Kemoen showered Batshegi with praises.
He said the boxer comes from a formidable club that has produced refined fighters like Pono Kamanga who had previously represented Botswana at the Olympics.
Kemoen pointed out that though they wanted to send at least four boxers to China, two is better than nothing. He said BoBA's efforts to produce good boxers are bearing fruits.
"Looking at the losing margin for those who did not qualify, it shows that the competition was very stiff," he said.
Meanwhile, Moabi Mothiba (69kg), Kgomotso Bok (51kg), boxer of the year Herbert Nkabiti (54kg), Bathusi Mogajane (48kg) and Gomotsang Gaasite (60kg) failed to qualify in Namibia.
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All were swept aside in the early stages of the qualifiers. Kemoen said that after the Namibia rout, they plan to go back to the drawing board and chart the way forward. They intend to intensify their preparations to send more boxers to the Olympics in four years' time.
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