4x400m Team on a shaky ground
BG Correspondent ATHLETICS The Botswana men's 4×400m relay team suffered a devastating blow this past Tuesday, as their star runner, Bayapo Ndori, appeared to sustain a hamstring injury during the 400m semi-finals. The injury caused Ndori to withdraw from the 400m race, leaving the technical team in a quandary regarding his participation in the relay event.
Ndori, a vital asset to the team, is currently awaiting further medical evaluation to determine the severity of the injury. Ndori is a key member of the Botswana senior men's 4x400m relay team, alongside other seasoned athletes such as Leungo Scotch, Collen Kebinatshipi, Zibane Ngozi, Baboloki Thebe, and Laone Ditshetelo. The team will take to the track in the 4x400m heats on the 26 August evening in Budapest. Ndori has competed in the men's 4 × 400 metres relay previously at the 2020 Summer Olympics and won the team won a bronze medal.
While the injury has dashed Ndori's individual hopes, the rest of the team is still in the running, but they face an uphill battle. Leungo Scotch and Collen Kebinatshipi finished last in their 400m semi -final heats, and therefore will not be proceeding to the finals. However, Ngozi, Thebe, and Ditshetelo are still in the mix and haven't participated in any individual events in Budapest, giving them an advantage in terms of freshness and energy in the 4 by 400m relay event. According to head coach Chilume Chippa Ntshwarang, Ndori was able to walk after the injury on Tuesday and the medical team is currently assessing the extent of the damage.
The coach stressed that they are awaiting the official medical evaluation on Wednesday before making any decisions about Ndori's continued participation in the relay event. It's a delicate situation that requires careful consideration and expert input. “The relay team's future depends on our timely decision-making. We have to have everything figured out by Thursday, so we're depending on the medical team's evaluation of Ndori's injury. The rest of the team is already training for the relay, so we need to be proactive and decisive,” he said.
The women's 4x400m relay heats are set to kick off on August 26th, and the team is well-rested, with the exception of Oratile Nowe, who ran in the women's 800m. Despite not advancing to the semis, she made history by setting a new Botswana national record, a stellar achievement that's sure to motivate the rest of the team as they gear up for the relay.
The team consists of Lydia Jele, Thomphang Basele, Obakeng Kamberuka, Gaolekanye Chikani, Galefele Moroko and Oratile Nowe. Meanwhile, Botswana already has a medal under its belt, courtesy of the phenomenal Letsile Tebogo.
The young sprinter became the first athlete from Africa to win a 100m medal in the World Athletics Championships since its inception in 1983. Tebogo's blazing speed earned him a silver medal on Sunday, and he continued his winning streak on Wednesday by effortlessly qualifying for the 200m semi-finals.