Seabata Mahao
Several taekwondo, cycling, and athletics players were recently involved in different international competitions to enhance their chances of qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games.
The athletes’ preparations were done under the auspices of the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC).
Participating in international competitions is necessary for athletes to accumulate the points required to qualify for the Games to be held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
Taekwondo star Michelle Tau took part in the 2023 World Taekwondo Championships held in Baku, where she lost 2-0 in the round of last 32 to Zukhrakhron Tojimatova, from Uzbekistan.
Despite the loss, Tau can still qualify for the Games if she accumulates enough points from her next fights.
Tau is one of the holders of the Olympic Scholarship by the LNOC, meant to support her journey to Paris.
Long-distance runner Tebello Ramakongoana, who is also the Olympic Scholarship holder, set a new national record for Lesotho by clocking in at 1:00:35 and finishing in second place in the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon in South Africa.
Female runner Mokulubete Makatisi also set a new national record by clocking in at 1:09:45 and finishing in fifth position in the process.
Cyclist Tumelo Makae obtained position 10 in 1:39:29 in the African Continental Cycling Championships – South Africa. Eric Ramohanoe was disqualified after he failed to finish his race.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Athletics Lesotho (FAL) has named a strong team for the international athletics relay competition in Botswana this coming weekend.
Organised by Botswana’s Lefika Athletics Club, the competition is scheduled for June 10, this year at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone.
A selected team of 13 athletes to compete in different categories in the competition include mixed medley relay 100m, 200m, 800m, and 1 500m, 100m× 4 mixed relays, males 100m× 4 relays, and 400m× 4 mixed relays.
Runners for the mixed meddle relay quartet consist of Maliea Nalane (female), who will run the 100m distance, Samuel Petlo (male) who is going for 200m, ‘Manqabang Tsibela (female), who will compete in the 800m, and Karabo Lephallo (male) who will run the 1500m distance.
The males’ 100m× 4 relay team is made up of Lebesa Sekepe, Mojela Koneshe, Mokheseng Kente, and Morapeli Mokole.
Nalane (female), Sekepe (male), Koneshe (male) along with Rethabile Koetle (female) will also form the team to battle in the mixed 100m 4 relay category.
In the mixed 400m× 4 Lesotho will be represented by Samuel Khalane (male), Pinki Monyobo (female), Relebohile Mokoatleng (male), and Mphotleng Koeshe (female).
