BY JUMA ALI
Uganda badminton association will have no athlete in the forthcoming Olympics games which will be held in France, Paris unless when God performs miracles.
According to the African rankings where the top two will qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi is currently third in Africa and 108 in World with 17,705/21 points while Kate Foo Kune from Mauritius with 19,132/21 points at number one in Africa and 101 in World and Johanita Scholtz from South Africa with 18,852/19 points at number two in Africa and 103 in World.
The difference between Fadilah at number three and Johanita at number two is 1147 points with few games remaining where she can pick points which could be very hard for Fadilah to over-turn the 1147 points in order to step on second place.
According to the rankings, Fadilah Shamika is Uganda’s only hope for the forthcoming 2024 Paris Olympic games because Husina Kobugabe, currently fourth in Africa and 128 in World with 14,889/22 points, Gladys Mbabazi at seventh position in Africa and 156 in World with 12,140/22 and Tracy Naluwooza at eighth position in Africa and 196 in World with 8,660/11 points have no chance of qualify for the games.
Uganda Badminton Association CEO, Simon Mugabi revealed that Fadilah suffered alot with injuries which interrupt her preparations and it could be very hard for her to qualify unless when miracles.
Badminton, was among the best performed sport in the just concluded All Africans games in Ghana, Accra by team Uganda where they won gold in women’s doubles by the pair of Husnah Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi, silver in women’s singles again by Husnah Kobugabe and bronze in women singles by Fadilah Shamika.