Kutlo Motseta
22nd November 2025
Over the weekend the Botswana Badminton Association hosted the ‘Botswana International Future Series 2025’ tournament at the Royal Arial Stadium in Tlokweng.
This was the first time Botswana hosted the tournament, which featured 17 countries across the world including Botswana.
“The objective of the series is to grow the sport in Botswana and give our athletes a chance to meet and compete against international players. They accumulate ranking points which helps them to gain entry to games such as the World Championships and Olympics,” said Public Relations Officer, Thobo Tshosa, Public Relations Officer for the Botswana Badminton Association.
He believes Botswana is progressing well.
“We are doing great, given that we have been given an opportunity to host this tournament by BCA (Badminton Confederation of Africa) and BWF (Badminton World Federation). They are the ones who sanction this tournament, it means we have the capability to host this tournament … We have a coach from Japan and local coaches … with time we can achieve the results we want …. High commissions of India and Japan … we are in good space with them. They are always supporting when we need funds for the development of facilities and coaches. We have five local coaches who are certified. We are developing full time players as they are balancing work and training,” said Tshosa.
The association is in talks with India to export players for exposure.
Australian coach was tasked to train eventual men’s semi-finalist, 19-year-old Ashkay Sai Jonnalagadda of Vietnam, drew some positives from the tournament and said he would be happy to return to Botswana to play again.
“The conditions are pretty good … he (Jonnalagadda) played well. First round was the hardest. He found his rhythm and was playing consistently for the next few rounds,” said Jonnalagadda.
Commenting about the local players he said:
“I saw a few of them train. I think that they don’t spend a lot of time on court … I have been become aware of their financial challenges. Hard for them to figure out and put a balance between working and training,” said Jonnalagadda.
Tessa Kabelo and Tebogo Ndzingi proudly represented their country and won bronze medals. I spoke to national team veteran Kabelo who started playing in 2010 when she was 14 years old in form 1.
“Before I started (badminton) I played long tennis. I wanted to learn badminton … I made the national team in my first year,” said Kabelo.
Kabelo hasn’t looked back and has been in the national team since. She has played in nine countries in Africa and Asia and is optimistic about the future.
“I train six times a week in preparation for the ‘2026 All-Africa Games’, which will be played in Botswana in February,” said Kabelo.
She encouraged the youth to participate in the sport saying, “badminton builds confidence and respect for others”.
Like Ndzingi she has won multiple single and doubles national championships. Kabelo is currently ranked number 2 in Botswana and no. 635 in the world for doubles.
Other leading local players are Mr. Tefo Kabomo, Mr. Godknows Ketlhabanetswe, Mr. Tumelo Moilwa and Ms. Tebogo Ndzingi.
