Uganda Junior International 2023: no gold for the host, Uganda as UAE emerged overall winners of the he tourney.
By Juma Ali
After the three days tournament that attracted nine countries , United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the tournament after collecting three gold medals out of four gold medals.
Team Uganda Wins ten bronze Medals as Uganda International Juniors Championship Climaxed at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
The Uganda International Juniors championship that shuttled off on Monday this week have climaxed on Wednesday 1st, March, 2023 with Uganda winning ten bronze medals.
The awarding ceremony was graced by Uganda Communication Commission, Acting Executive Director Otunu Fred who thanked team Uganda for achieving and winning the medals they could and asked other Corporate companies and government to join UCC and support sports in the country.
“I have been impressed with the level of Professionalism that was exhibited by the people I found playing, the game I was able to watch, I saw people exhibit high level of skills, it was UAE I found playing on final, that showed me that we as a country we have to work more, train more and invest more in the sport. I believe Uganda has a pool of skillful youths, if we give them high quality training and Professional coaches, they can perform like those from UAE. As sponsors, we call upon other private companies, government to invest in sports for obvious reasons.” Says UCC Acting Executive Director Fred Otunu.
Uganda players tried to put up a strong challenge in this Championship compared to that of the seniors where it didn’t escape quarters, this time round the players entered medal bracket though none of them made it to the finals.
Uganda got ten bronze medals in women, men Singles, women and men doubles and in mixed doubles.
The All Africa Badminton Senior Championship gold medalist Fadilah Shamika won two bronze medals in singles and women doubles.
Tracy Naluwooza who lost at quarter finals in singles, she managed to secure a bronze medal in Women doubles, she doubled with Shamika Fadilah Muhammed Rafi and they lost to UAE duo of Taabia Khan and Mysha Omer Khan [16-21,19-21] and they were the eventual winners of the category.
Aaron Ndawula, Akbar Oduka, Guna Kusal , Reagan Michael Nsubuga and Abed Bukenya all won bronze medals in men doubles.
Arafat Tendo Kibirige and Claire Namirembe won the bronze medals in mixed doubles.
However, the players from UAE proved that they are exceptional in this juniors Championship, winning gold medals in men singles and doubles.
Actually the men’s singles, and women’s final were between players from UAE.
Bharath Latheesh won the gold medal after beating Dev Vishnu from the same country.
Sanika Dhawan Gurav from UAE won the gold medal after beating Taralaxmi Karthikeyan.
Uganda Badminton Association CEO Simon Mugabi revealed the reasons as to why Uganda won only bronze medals and why the players from UAE were a better side in these Championships.
“We were able to have a smooth tournament without any hiccups also; Team Uganda’s performance wasn’t bad, these tournaments attract the best, but if we can reach the semis, then that’s good, players from UAE train from India, they take much of their time on Court, their government funds them well and that’s why you see them performing better” Mugabi said.
“We have more events like the world championships, the Olympics 2024, the Paralympics and All Africa games.”
“Therefore, we must participate in as many international events as possible to collect points,” he added.
List of the winners 2023:
Women doubles:
Taabia Khan and Mysha Omer Khan from UAE (gold medals)
Sanika Dhawan Gurav and Aleena Qathun from UAE (silver medal)
Fadilah Shamika Mohammed Rafi and Tracy Naluwooza from Uganda (Bronze)
Tiya Bhurtun and Layna Luxmi Chiniah from Mauritius (bronze)
Men Doubles:
Lucas Douce and Khemtish Rai Nundah from Mauritius (Gold medals)
Bhavesh Bissessur and Aidan Yu Siow Yin Young from Mauritius (silver medals)
Aaron Ndawula and Akbar Oduka from Uganda (bronze Medals)
Guna Kusal Dhulupudi and Reagan Michael Nsubuga from Uganda (bronze medals)
Mixed Doubles:
Dev Vishnu and Taabia Khan from UAE (gold medals)
Khemtish Rai Nundah and Tiya Bhurtun from Mauritius (silver medals)
Aidan Yu Siow Yin Young and Fadilah Shamika Mohammed Rafi from Mauritius and Uganda (bronze)
Arafat Tendo Kibirige and Claire Namirembe from Uganda (bronze medal)
Women singles:
Sanika Dhawan Gurav from UAE (Gold)
Taralaxmi Karthikeyan from UAE (silver)
Fadilah Shamika Mohammed Rafi from Uganda (bronze)
Taabia Khan from UAE (Bronze)
Men Singles:
Bharath Latheesh from UAE (Gold)
Dev Vishnu from UAE (silver)
Khemtish Rai Nundah from UAE (bronze)
Abed Bukenya from Uganda (Bronze)
