Botswana has declared a public holiday to celebrate the country's victory in the men's 4x400 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the first African nation to win the event. President Duma Boko hailed the gold medal as a historic African win, in an online address praising the team for their performance. He announced Monday, 29 September, as a holiday to celebrate the achievement - a day ahead of the country's independence day.
On Sunday, Botswana's team of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi edged out the US, the winners of the last 10 world titles, in a rain-drenched race. South Africa took third position.
I'll be sure to tell everyone, Botswana's natural diamonds are not just in the ground, they are our World Champion athletes, the president said, speaking from New York where he is attending the UN General Assembly. He described the moment as electric, adding that Botswana's performance spoke to its rising stature on the global stage.
The southern African nation finished fifth overall in the championship's medal standings - behind the US, Kenya, the Netherlands, and Canada - with their best-ever return of two golds, one silver, and a bronze. Last year, Botswana celebrated another historic milestone as Tebogo won the nation's first Olympic gold medal with his victory in the men's 200m in Paris.
On Sunday, Botswana's team of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Bayapo Ndori, and Busang Collen Kebinatshipi edged out the US, the winners of the last 10 world titles, in a rain-drenched race. South Africa took third position.
I'll be sure to tell everyone, Botswana's natural diamonds are not just in the ground, they are our World Champion athletes, the president said, speaking from New York where he is attending the UN General Assembly. He described the moment as electric, adding that Botswana's performance spoke to its rising stature on the global stage.
The southern African nation finished fifth overall in the championship's medal standings - behind the US, Kenya, the Netherlands, and Canada - with their best-ever return of two golds, one silver, and a bronze. Last year, Botswana celebrated another historic milestone as Tebogo won the nation's first Olympic gold medal with his victory in the men's 200m in Paris.
