Botswana is still optimistic to increase the number of athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
So far, only Nijel Amos, Christine Botlogetswe and Galefele Moroko from athletics and Keamogetse Kenosi of boxing have qualified for the July 24 - August 9 spectacle.
Briefing the media on Tuesday, Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) president, Botsanag Tshenyego said they were confident that more athletes would qualify by the different closing dates.
“We are positive of increasing the size of the team and medal prospects. Different athletes are working hard so that they make it to the Olympics,” he said.
BNOC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said they had 10 teams that were attempting to make the cut at the beginning of the qualifying period, and that only six being athletics, boxing, judo, karate, swimming and weightlifting were still in the running.
He said BNOC was confident that more athletes would qualify, including relay teams.
“Between December and now we did not have our athletics team competing in any major events except local competitions, but we are confident they are getting into shape,” he said.
Meanwhile, Serufho noted that Kenosi had made history by becoming the first female boxer from the country to qualify for the Olympics.
He added that one of the three swimmers that BNOC was supporting would qualify.
He said the karate team went for training in Europe before competing in the recent continental qualification tournament in Morocco, and that they managed to salvage a bronze medal.