The Botswana team dropped out of the top four positions at the just ended Supreme Council of Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone 6 Under 20 Youth Games which were held in Zambia. Botswana’s junior athletes came fifth at the games, dropping two places from their best finish of third achieved at the preceding games held in Swaziland in 2010.
South Africa emerged overall winners of the 2012 SCSA Zone Six Games with 132 medals, which included 67 gold and were trailed by Namibia in second position with 65 medals while hosts Zambia reaped 41 medals to finish third.
Despite finishing with an overall 33 medal haul from the games compared to Mozambique’s 26 medals, Botswana came fifth behind Mozambique as the Mozambicans had a higher gold medal count than Botswana.
Of the Mozambicans’ 26 medal haul, 10 were gold while Botswana managed only seven (7) gold medals out of their 33 medals haul. The result is the lowest of the past two editions, with Botswana having got fourth and third positions at the 2008 and the 2010 games respectively. During the 2008 games in South Africa, Botswana sent a 157 strong representation and came fourth, amassing 31 medals, 5 of which were gold, 15 silver while 11 were bronze.
The country then upped its game in the 2010 edition of the games in Swaziland where they sent a large contingent of 192 representatives and came in 3rd position, bringing home 51 medals, of which 15 were gold, 12 silver and 24 bronze.
This year, the country sent a small contingent as compared to the last two editions and dropped out of the top four. Of the country’s seven gold medals, 5 are from athletics while boxing and swimming brought home a single gold medal a piece. ?Botswana’s gold medals were won by Nijel Amos in men’s 400m, Christine Batlogetswe in women’s 400m, Kabelo Bagwasi (boxing), Stephen Beukes in Javelin and Leungo Matlhaku in the ladies 200m race while the women’s 4X400m┬áalso clinched a gold medal.
Other notable performers at the games include the Botswana Judo team who won themselves three silver medals in their maiden appearance at the games. Netball also did well, coming third behind powerhouses South Africa and Malawi.
There was however no good news for Botswana men’s football team as they managed only one win out of the four games they played. The Botswana team was welcomed back home on Monday.