National badminton team representing Lesotho
Lesotho |
| Association | Lesotho Badminton Association (LBA) |
|---|
| Confederation | BCA (Africa) |
|---|
| President | Mahlape Khetsi |
|---|
| BWF ranking |
|---|
| Current ranking | Unranked (2 April 2024) |
|---|
| Highest ranking | 87 (4 July 2023) |
|---|
| African Mixed Team Championships |
|---|
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2023) |
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| Best result | Group stage |
|---|
The Lesotho national badminton team (Sotho: Sehlopha papadi badminton sa naha sa Lesotho) represents Lesotho in international team competitions and is controlled by the Lesotho Badminton Association, the governing body for Lesotho badminton.[1]
The national team debuted in the African Badminton Championships in 2023.
History
The Lesotho badminton team was formed after the establishment of the Lesotho Badminton Association in 1999 under the Lesotho Sports & Recreation Commission development program.[2] The national team later became affiliated to the Badminton World Federation in 2018 and were part of the BWF Shuttle Time program which was aimed to develop and progress badminton in the country.[3]
Mixed team
In 1984, Lesotho originally planned to debut in the 1984 African Badminton Championships but later declined their participation.[4]
The national team made their first international team event appearance at the 2023 African Badminton Championships. The team sent a total of 4 players and were eliminated in the group stages.[5]
Competitive record
Thomas Cup | Year | Round | Pos | 1949
to
1964 | Part of the  United Kingdom | 1967
to
2024 | Did not enter | | 2026 | To be determined | | 2028 | | 2030 | | Uber Cup | Year | Round | Pos | 1957
to
1966 | Part of the United Kingdom | 1969
to
2024 | Did not enter | | 2026 | To be determined | | 2028 | | 2030 | | Sudirman Cup | Year | Round | Pos | 1989
to
2021 | Did not enter | | 2023 | Did not qualify | | 2025 | To be determined | | 2027 | | 2029 | |
Commonwealth Games
Men's team | Year | Round | Pos | | 1998 | Did not enter | | Women's team | Year | Round | Pos | | 1998 | Did not enter | | Mixed team | Year | Round | Pos | 1978
to
2022 | Did not enter | | 2026 | To be determined | |
African Games
Mixed team
African Team Championships
Men's team | Year | Round | Pos | 1979
to
2024 | Did not enter | | 2026 | To be determined | | 2028 | | 2030 | | Women's team | Year | Round | Pos | 1979
to
2024 | Did not enter | | 2026 | To be determined | | 2028 | | 2030 | | Mixed team | Year | Round | Pos | 1980
to
2021 | Did not enter | | 2023 | Group stage | 13th | | 2025 | To be determined | | 2027 | | 2029 | |
- **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Junior competitive record
Suhandinata Cup
| Year | Round | Pos |
2000
to
2024 | Did not enter |
| 2025 | To be determined |
African Youth Games
Men's team | Year | Round | Pos | | 2018 | Did not enter | | Women's team | Year | Round | Pos | | 2018 | Did not enter | | Mixed team | Year | Round | Pos | | 2014 | Did not enter | |
African Junior Team Championships
Mixed team
| Year | Round | Pos |
1979
to
2022 | Did not enter |
| 2024 | To be determined |
- **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Players
Current squad
- As of 2 January 2024
Men's team
| Name | DoB/Age | Ranking of event |
| MS | MD | XD |
| Neo Rahlolo | (2002-12-14) 14 December 2002 (age 21) | 1039 | 711 | 737 |
| Tebello Selemela | (2002-02-05) 5 February 2002 (age 22) | 1054 | 711 | 737 |
Women's team
| Name | DoB/Age | Ranking of event |
| WS | WD | XD |
| Khahliso Khetheng | (2005-03-14) 14 March 2005 (age 19) | 580 | 448 | 737 |
| Refiloe Moeletsi | (1998-02-26) 26 February 1998 (age 26) | 580 | 448 | 737 |
References
- ^ "Team: Lesotho". bwf.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Lesotho Badminton Association". Sportrecs.com. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ "Humans of Shuttle Time: Mohlala Mopeli". bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ^ Talking Drums (...Malawi, Lesotho, Madagascar and Swaziland might also participate in the championships). Talking Drums. 1984. p. 26.
- ^ "Championnat d'Afrique des nations de Badminton : L'Algérie remporte la médaille de bronze". El watan. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
