Botswana: History made in boxing

The article reports on a historic milestone achieved by Lone Batsalelwang, a boxing referee and judge with the Botswana Boxing Association, who has obtained the International Boxing Association (IBA) star 3 certification. This qualification allows her to officiate at world boxing championships and international tournaments, making her the first woman in Southern Africa to attain this level of certification. 

Batsalelwang describes the certification as the result of years of commitment, training and hard work, noting that she recently completed the process in Nairobi, Kenya. With more than two decades of experience as a referee and judge, she has represented Botswana internationally and won national titles, establishing herself as a respected figure in the sport. 

The story highlights the significance of her achievement for gender representation in boxing, particularly in a traditionally male-dominated field. Batsalelwang expresses her intention to use this milestone to inspire and mentor young girls, contributing to the growth of women’s participation and leadership in boxing in Botswana.

LINK TO PUBLISHED STORY 

Written by Nancy Ramokhua. This article, first published by The Patriot Group, is part of the Media Parity Capacity Building Programme and republished as part of the programme series.