Sensei Ofentse Bakwadi and Entle Maungwa will get an opportunity to fly the Botswana Flag high when they compete at the World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar. The competition, which is first of its kind, runs from October 12 to 16. The duo qualified for the competition after their achievements at the 2018 Africa Karate Senior Championships which were held in Kigali, Rwanda.
Bakwadi won a silver medal in the Men’s Individual Kata while Maungwa secured a bronze medal in the Ladies Kata. The duo is accompanied by Coach Christopher Ponatshego who has been at the helm of the national team for some time.
The multi-sport event is organised by the Association of National Olympic Committees, but admits only Individual Kata in Karate living out kumite.
In June the duo debuted at the Africa Beach games where they managed to win bronze medals each. Bakwadi went on to win silver with his team Kata while Maungwa settled for bronze with her team kata which means the two know what awaits them in Doha.
So far Bakwadi has had a great season as he has been able to win a medal in every competition he has attended this year.
The 2019 UFAK Championships add to the list of tournaments he competed in and his consistency was very evident when he won two bronze medals from Individual kata and team kata. The very same thing happened at the All Africa Games when he emerged as a double bronze medalist.
For Maungwa her success this season has been mostly with the Team kata other than on individual events. Just like Bakwadi, she managed to win a bronze medal during UFAK and All Africa Games.
Her individual success came through during Africa Beach games and Zone 6 Karate championships where she won bronze medals respectively. Almost 1200 athletes from all over the globe are expected to attend the World Beach Games, participating in at least 22 sport codes amongst them volleyball, wrestling and handball.