Molepolole — Botswana Table Tennis (BTTA) has gathered a provisional team of young players, who will form the basis of selection for the youth national team that will represent the country at the WTT Youth Contender in Gaborone from November 11 to 14.

The selection process, which was held over the weekend at three locations being Maun, Mabeleapudi and Gaborone, has been hailed as a success by BTTA development coordinator, Godirileone Bagwasi.

Bagwasi said he was satisfied by the turnout and level of participation as the young players displayed skills and showed eagerness to represent the country. "We are very pleased with how the selection exercise went across all centres," he said.

Bagwasi said the level of competition was high, and noted that taking the selection to different regions allowed BTTA to reach more players and ensure inclusivity, which is a key part of the development strategy.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

The selection camps saw 78 youth players gathered, with one vision of making it to the national youth team. The process saw 12 players, six girls and six boys going past the highly contended selection process.

In the boys category, Leatlo Gabakgore, Katlo Kgosietsile, Kgotla Thebeyame, Tebogo Kotopo, Thato Kgongwana and Tinashe Dzvaka made it to the provisional team and are now one step closer to the youth national team.

For the youth girls category, Oratile Lekgethiso, Jwame Mojuta, Kgotso Kootsene, Abigail Molaba, Carol David and Stephaney Batsholeng made it through.

"The selected players, together with our top-ranked youth players being Boitlamo Nkele and Reneilwe Lekorwe for the girls and boys categories respectively, will be invited for a training camp for the final selection phase," said Bagwasi.

He said the camps would assist to evaluate performance, discipline and readiness toward the final youth national team selection.

BOPA