Uganda international Para-badminton tournament got on road with 35 Uganda dent to utilize an early chess for 2028 Paralympics slots.
The annual event in its 7th edition started on Tuesday 2 July 2024 at NCS arena Lugogo.
This year’s event is in the middle of sponsorship partners with Kansai Plascon paints, Crystal water, Bank of Baroda and other laying a smooth running platform.
Having failed to qualify for 2024 Paralympics Uganda fielded 35 athletes out of the 192 participants from the 14 countries.
Sarah Naziwa, Elizabeth Mwesigwa, Marry Juliet Namunoga are one of the names to be mentioned among those who are representing Uganda.
With Uganda participating as a host nation, India, Azerbaijan, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Israel, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Zambia, Togo, Colombia, Mexico, Egypt, Botswana and Djibouti joined this year’s Uganda Para Badminton International.
The tournament currying world ranking points which will play a role in deciding on players to make it to 2028 Paralympics in USA.
Despite of the golden chance for the early points but Uganda players are to hustle into the tournament with big challenges at Marry Juliet Namunoga a categorised Standing Lower three (SL3) player explains
“We find many challenges and this time it has been transport and food”
But I to put that on my back and play well to gather points, improving on my performance so that I become a better player”
On same note Ali Kibirango a wheelchair 2 play he also singled out the transport issue;
“We were about to give a walk over this morning! Transport for us the disabled in Uganda is very expensive for example: Nazziwa Sarah stays in Matugga, but a Boda to bring her to Lugogo will always ask for 30,000/-
“This kind of money we don’t have, so I request companies to come and give us a hand so that we can compete favorably with those international players”
The tournament will have its climax on Sunday 7th, July 2024 following a full week of action.
