Botswana Announces Commonwealth Games Team

Sunday Standard Botswana Announces Commonwealth Games Team The clock is ticking towards the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Only twenty-five (25) days from this day, Sunday 28th June 2026, remain. Ahead of the games, Commonwealth Sport Botswana, under the auspices of Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), has unveiled a 47-member delegation to represent the country. The delegation is composed of 25 athletes and 22 officials were announced by the Minister of Sport and Arts Jacob Kelebeng this past Friday. This athlete representation is less than that which was sent to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Four years ago in Birmingham, the country sent 33 athletes, only to bring back two medals, a silver and a bronze.  Of interest, despite the glaring absence of the country’s elite track athletes from the team, BNOC has placed a seven (7) medal target on its back. If met, the target will represent the biggest medal haul ever by the country at the Commonwealth Games. At the moment, Botswana’s best ever medal win was achieved at the Gold Coast 2018 games in Australia in 2018. Back then, the country brought back five (5) medals, of which three (3) were gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. With 26 athletes in the team then, it was almost similar in number to the current team. The only difference however was the composition of the team. Unlike this year, the country sent its elite athletes to Gold Coast and the results reflected.  Isaac Makwala, Amantle Montsho and the men’s 4x400m relay team won gold, while Baboloki Thebe and the women’s 4x400m relay team got a bronze. For this edition however, Botswana’s elite athletes like Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebinatshipi and Bayapo Ndori will not feature. BNOC president Tshepo Sitale says the absence of these athletes does not mean the country is not taking the Commonwealth Games seriously.  “The Commonwealth are major games and we take them seriously, hence we have given them the best that we can. Our target is to have seven medals at the games and we believe we are on course to get them looking at the performance of our athletes.” “Yes, historically our best performance was at Gold Coast in Australia. The last Commonwealth Games we had two medals, one of them through Lethabo (Modukanele) who is part of this team. We believe she will upgrade with experience and we have a formidable team across the divide.” This was reiterated by Botswana Athletics Association chief executive officer (BAA CEO) Mabua Mabua. He says the absence of star track athletes was not planned as the initial submission for the team had all the star athletes.  “But there was a time when their fitness was questionable. Considering their loaded calendar that will run till September, and after engagement with their coaches and managers, we took a decision not to overload them to avoid them incurring injuries. While we want to push for medals, we also have to take our athletes’ welfare into consideration.” The same sentiments were reiterated by Minister Kelebeng. “I had an opportunity to engage with the coaches because I was not happy with the athletes’ absence from the team. During the engagement, they pointed to me the importance of reducing their schedule load and resting them as part of the build-up for World championships next year and the Olympics in 2028.” While the athletes are not on national duty, they will continue to compete in invitational meets. This raises questions whether the incentives offered on national duty may be less attractive than the monies earned in professional circuits. In response to this, Kelebeng says ‘he agrees that maybe it is time to improve the incentives’ for athletes to prioritise national duties. He however says the government cannot do it alone. “I agree that we need to do something. We are currently trying to review our incentives policy. While our incentives are ‘not bad,’ it is however important for us to reflect as we prepare for major competitions and maybe mobilise more funds for them to prioritise major games of national interest.”   Meanwhile, team Botswana for Glasgow 2026 will be comprised of Prince Phaezel Selepe (100m/200m), Tshepiso Masalela (1500m), Justice Oratile (200m), Kemorena Tisang (400m hurdles), Lee Eppie (400m), Kethobogile Hanguira (800m), Oratile Nowe (800m), Obakeng Kamberuka (400m), Kennekae Batisani (400m), Naledi Monthe (400m), Boitshepiso Kelapile (100m) and Tshegofatso Bojosi (long jump) from track and field, Gift Modise (57kg), Lethabo Modukanele (51kg), and Treasure Moremi (60kg) from boxing, Botho Babutsi (48kg) and Tumiso Phuthego (60kg) – Judo, Adriaan Robinson and Maxine Catlin Egner from swimming as well as Boikhutso Mooketsi, Gaoromelwe Belemo, Sabathu Chinki Sinombe, Modisaotsile Mphotho, and Charles Diteko from bowling. The post Botswana Announces Commonwealth Games Team first appeared on Sunday Standard and is written by Sunday Standard Reporter