BY JUMA ALI
Uganda’s younger star Shakir Kiggundu, bags two gold medals at the second Kenya National speeding skating championship. Kiggundu had the rescue hero for team Uganda which had sent 21 athletes in the just concluded second Kenya National Speed skating, which was held in Kasarani stadium, Kenya.
The Championship which was dominated by the hosts, Kenya and Rwanda saw 5 years old Ugandan Kigundu bagged two gold medals in the short distance categories as he finished top of the 200 and 500 metres category to help team Uganda return home with just only two medals. Uganda, presented a team of 21 athletes and 6 officials in the championship which was also participated by United Arab Emirates.
The team captain Himran Sserumaga, hinted on the challenges as they faced as a team and also praised the heroics of Kiggundu who bagged double gold.
“We managed to pick a lot of positives from the championship despite facing a lot of challenges as a team where most of the skaters on the team were taking part in their very first competitive championship outside Uganda especially teenagers and children in the team” captain, states.
The captain went on to say that they had enough and better preparations ahead of the championship but as a country, we lack equipments which meet the international standards and this was a major blow to the team as most of the skaters dropped earlier in the marathon and long long distances due to the heat in the wheel .
In the Girls 8-9 age category, Mayra Maria saw her way to the finals as she qualified in the third position in the 300 metres despite failing to make it to the medal bracket.
The list of the 21 athletes include, Himran Sserumaga, as team captain, Ezra Bukenya, Noordin Lubega, Sayed Inaya, Sayed Samara, Hatim Sseruyange, Awadallah Kiweewa, Shan Kiggundu, Shakir Kiggundu, Abdu Ariki Muhammed, Husnat Nyanzi, Ramathan Iga, Badru Kasule, Myra Maria, Janat Jukira, Rashid Mubara, Halima Atatii, Yusuf Mugaga, Joshua Kaweesi, Huzaifah Lutaya.
And team officials include, Hassan Mwanje Musa, Rashid Kiberu, Saida Kibrige, Sharifah Babirye, Sayed Farhanaz, Sayed Muhammed Ashraf.
