Seabata Mahao
The host nation, Lesotho, managed a second-place overall finish at a regional taekwondo tournament recently held in Maseru.
The Eswatini team won the tournament, lifting the trophy and receiving gold medals, while Botswana came third and received bronze medals. The neighbouring South African team finished last in the fourth position.
Held under the auspices of the Lesotho Taekwondo Association (LTA) in collaboration with the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA), the tournament aimed to spotlight the growing passion for taekwondo in Lesotho and advance efforts to nurture and promote the sport.
Despite finishing second overall, Team Lesotho secured first place in the junior men’s category, second place in the junior women’s category, second place in both the senior men’s and women’s categories, and second place in the cadets category.
Thakamphaki Ntšihlele, speaking on behalf of Team Lesotho’s coaching staff, regarded the tournament as a success despite encountering a few initial challenges. “We started late due to some registration and administration issues, but once everything was sorted out, the tournament flowed very well. Our athletes performed admirably, securing second place out of four countries. They dominated nearly every category,” Ntšihlele explained.
Participating nations from the COSAFA region included Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa. The collaboration between the Lesotho Taekwondo Association (LTA) and COSAFA is seen as a strategic initiative to diversify and elevate sports within Southern Africa, expanding beyond COSAFA’s traditional association with football to embrace the multifaceted world of taekwondo.
This partnership not only aimed to raise the profile of taekwondo but also to inspire a new generation of practitioners, encouraging youth across the region to embrace the discipline and artistry of this martial art form.
