Leemisa Thuseho

AFTER a long Covid-19 break, Lesotho’s two-time Olympian Mosito Lehata returns to action next Tuesday where he will be battling for honours at this year’s Pupkewitz Foundation Open Athletics Championships in Namibia.

Lehata was last in action in the Free State Track and Field Championship in February.

He told the Sunday Express on Friday that he was glad to honour his first ever invitation to the Pupkewitz Foundation Championships.

He leaves the country on Saturday for Namibia.

Lehata said he was looking forward to using the championship to test his readiness for major events next year.

“After Covid-19 disrupted the whole world and even put sport activities on hold, I think the Namibia championship will test my mental readiness for next year,” Lehata said.

“The main events that I am targeting will be in January and February but for me to be ready, I must participate in others like the one in Namibia… there is no way I can be ready without running.”

He said he is well prepared as he has been training from as far back as August.

Being his first time for the Namibia event, he s unsure what to expect but said he is poised for a good finishing time.

“Since I started training in August, I think I am ready to compete… I am going there to win because the win will motivate me and give me confidence ahead of next year.”

Lehata is currently under the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Scholarships sponsored by the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) to assist him prepare for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

He is however, yet to qualify for the Olympics and says he is confident that he will make the grade for the global showcase.

To qualify, he must clock 10.05 in 100 metres. His personal record currently stands at 10.11.

“I am not far from reaching the Olympic qualifying standard but I must still work hard because it is not easy. During the lockdown I have been trying all means to train because I do not want to use Covid-19 as an excuse if I fail to qualify next year,” Lehata added.