Diamond Rockets off to Botswana for 2026 Billie Jean King Cup

Ghana's national women's tennis team, the Diamond Rockets, has departed for Gaborone, Botswana, to compete in the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Africa Group III tournament. The event is set to commence on Monday, bringing together 11 African nations competing for a coveted promotion spot to the Europe/Africa Group II next year.

Joining Ghana in the competition are Algeria, Botswana (the host nation), Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe. The tournament will follow a two-stage round-robin format, with the 11 participating teams divided into groups of three and four. The top two nations at the end of the competition will earn promotion to Europe/Africa Group II, while the bottom two will be relegated to Africa Group IV.

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The team underwent an intensive week-long residential training camping in Accra, with a focus on technical development, tactical preparation, physical conditioning, mental resilience and team bonding. He described the residential camping as a significant boost to its preparation.

The Diamond Rockets will enter the tournament as one of the unseeded teams. Coach and captain Bernard Ashitey Armaah expressed strong confidence in his players' readiness, highlighting an intensive week-long residential training camp in Accra. This camp focused on technical development, tactical preparation, physical conditioning, mental resilience, and team bonding, which he described as a significant boost.

Isaac Aboagye Duah, President of the Ghana Tennis Federation (GTF), conveyed gratitude to all stakeholders for their support. He acknowledged the challenges in securing sponsorship this year, partly due to corporate organizations' heightened focus on the FIFA World Cup. Duah also extended thanks to the players' parents and individuals who provided financial and moral contributions to the team's preparation.

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He further acknowledged that the heightened focus on the FIFA World Cup by corporate organisations made securing of sponsorship this year challenging.