Lesotho’s Olympic team announced

Mosito Lehata (left) will lead Team Lesotho at Rio 2016

The Lesotho team for the 2016 Rio Olympic has been announced. This year Team Lesotho will consist of eight athletes, four more than the number that competed in 2012 at the London Olympics.

The increase in qualified athletes is positive news for Lesotho and there is hope this year’s squad is better prepared than four years ago.

The team for Rio 2016 is led by sprinter Mosito Lehata who will compete in the 100 and 200 metres. Lehata is in form having won silver in the 100 metres at last month’s Africa Senior Championships where he set a new personal best time of 10.04 seconds.

He is also the most experienced member of the team having competed at the London 2012 Games and finished fourth in the 200 metres at the 2004 Commonwealth Games.

Lehata will be joined by track athletes Nomakoe Nkhasi and Tšepang Sello, marathon runners Tšepo Mathibelle and Lebenya Nkoka, boxers Inkululeko Suntele and Moroke Mokhotho, and cyclist Phetetso Monese.

The majority of the team is out of the country finalising preparations for Rio.

Lehata is fine-tuning his preps in France, boxing duo Suntele and Mokhotho are in Cuba, Mathibelle is in Kenya, Monese is competing Switzerland and Austria, 5000 metres runner Nkhasi is in South Africa and 800 metres specialist Sello is in Germany.

Lesotho will also be sending an official to the Olympics. Lesotho Taekwondo Association president Moshoeshoe Molapo has also been selected as a match referee for the Rio taekwondo tournament.

The Games begin on August 5 and finish on August 21.

Lesotho’s delegation for Rio 2016 Olympics:

Athletics

Mosito Lehata - 200 metres, 100 metres

Nkhasi Namakoe - 5000 metres

Tšepo Mathibelle - Marathon

Lebenya Nkoka - Marathon

Tšepang Sello - 800 metres

Coaches

Kenneth Hlasa

Stephen Buckland (Mosito Lehata’s coach)

Derick van Rensburg (Tšepang Sello’s coach)

Boxing

Moroke Mokhotho

Inkululeko Suntele

Coaches

Sibusiso Keketsi

Moeketsi Liphalo

Cycling

Phetetso Monese

Coach

Mark West

Team Lesotho head of delegation: Letsatsi Ntsibolane

General manager: Lekomola Moholo

Team doctor: Dr ‘Mamello Sekese

LNOC CEO: Morake Raleaka

LNOC president: ‘Matlohang Moiloa-Ramoqopo

Referee (Taekwondo): Moshoeshoe Molapo