Chris Theko
Following the pledge made by the Minister of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation (MGYSR) Likeleli Tampane to award three top Lesotho Olympians following their performance in the recent 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games held in Japan last year, the minister awarded the athletes with cheques worth M 130 000 at the Ministry Headquarters in Maseru this week.
The three athletes are marathoners ‘Nneheng Khatala-Seutloali, Khoarahlane Seutloali who were awarded M50 000 each while paralympian discus thrower Litšitso Khotlele received a cheque of M30 000.
The Olympic Games were held from July to August 2021 while the Paralympics were held from August to September.
Speaking at the event Tampane thanked the athletes for their patience in waiting for the delivery of the promise made last year.
“I would like to thank the athletes for the patience they showed for the past months after we made a pledge to reward them for the excellent job they did during the Olympic Games,†the minister said.
She further expressed her gratitude to the three athletes for raising the national flag amongst other top countries saying they all sacrificed themselves by showing the love and passion they have for their country.
On behalf of the three athlete, Seutloali thanked the minister for rewarding them for their exploits having represented the country under very tough conditions.
“We are thankful for having been able to go to the Olympic Games in Japan, it was not an easy task under the strict measures that the world was operating under because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The only thing that was in our minds going there was the love we have for our country and to raise its flag amongst others. Upon our return we were promised a reward for our exploits and to finally receive it means a lot, for that we are grateful,†Seutloali said.
He said that they are going to do their best to deliver a better performance during the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Khotlele was the only Mosotho, only female and the only African competing in her category during the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. She competed in the females discuss throw in the F64 category and threw a 22.75 metre and finished ninth out of 10.
Despite finishing ninth she set a new personal record by breaking her 20, 34 metre she qualified with, 29-year-old Khatala-Seutloali finished in position 20 out of 88 competitors with a time of 2:33:15 while Seutloali managed to complete the race in position 67 in 02:25:03 in his race.
