The All African Games recently concluded, with the arm wrestling competition drawing to a close yesterday. In an exclusive interview with Sports247, Rosemary Botha, the President of the South African Arm Wrestling Federation, shared her thoughts on the team’s performance and future plans.
Botha, who has been leading the federation since its reformation last year, expressed pride in the team’s achievements. “We’re very proud of our athletes,” she said. Despite not securing any gold medals, the team’s performance was commendable. Botha acknowledged that the athletes need more exposure to international platform arm wrestling, as they have become comfortable competing at home.
One of the highlights of the competition was the performance of Marie, a 14-year-old athlete who narrowly missed out on a bronze or silver medal. “Unfortunately, Nigeria kicked her out,” Botha lamented. However, she remains optimistic about the young athlete’s future. “She’s only 14, so in four years, she’ll be 18. Then we are going to see a different story. We’re going to train her hard.”
Looking ahead, Botha revealed that the federation is already preparing for the next African championships in Togo. “I’m hoping that we can bring a nice team next year,” she said. The focus will be on the African championships for the next few years, leading up to the next African Games in Egypt, if they are able to participate.
Botha also expressed her delight at the growth and acceptance of arm wrestling in Africa. “I love it. It was great to be part of this experience. It’s great to be part of making history, especially for the sport of arm wrestling,” she said. She was particularly proud of Ghana, who took home many medals. “That makes me really proud. So I’m happy. I’m very happy.”
In conclusion, the South African Arm Wrestling Federation, under the leadership of Rosemary Botha, is looking forward to a future filled with hard work, training, and, hopefully, more medals. The spirit of the athletes and their determination to improve is a testament to the growing popularity and acceptance of arm wrestling in Africa.
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