Botswana has officially declared a public holiday to honor the country’s victory in the men’s 4×400 meters at the World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo. This event marked a significant achievement as Botswana became the first African nation to win this particular relay race.
President Duma Boko recognized the gold medal as a notable accomplishment for the continent during an address from New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly. He announced that Monday, September 29, would be designated as a holiday to celebrate the team’s success, coinciding with the day before Botswana’s independence day.
In the competition, Botswana’s team consisting of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi narrowly defeated the United States, which had won the last ten world titles, in a race that took place in challenging weather conditions. South Africa secured the third spot in this event.
In his speech, President Boko emphasized the significance of the athletes, noting that they represent a valuable resource for the nation, much like the country’s natural diamonds. He described the atmosphere during the race as “electric” and pointed out that the team’s success reflects Botswana’s increasing presence on the global sports stage.
Overall, Botswana ranked fifth in the championship’s medal standings, achieving its best results to date with a total of two golds, one silver, and one bronze. In a related development, Botswana had notable success last year when Letsile Tebogo secured the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 200 meters at the Paris Games. His achievement was celebrated nationally, prompting the government to declare a half-day holiday to allow citizens to honor his victory.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqlz9ven14eo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss