Uganda’s table tennis youngsters Joseph Sebatindira and Jemima Nakawala kept the national flag flying at the fourth African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola, each claiming a bronze medal in the singles competition.
Sebatindira, just 12 and a Primary Five pupil at Nakasero Primary School, cruised through the group stages before meeting a stern test in the semifinals.
He was halted 4–1 by Tunisia’s Youssef Aidli, the reigning African under-15 champion. In the bronze playoff, the youngster pushed Nigeria’s Mathew Fabunmi all the way before falling 3–2, a performance that still earned him a deserved spot on the podium.
Nakawala showed equal grit on the women’s side. The 15-year-old Kibuli Secondary School student exited in the semifinals after a 4–1 loss to Egypt’s Elbadawy but bounced back impressively. She edged Algeria’s Morice Tania 3–2 in the third-place playoff to seal her bronze.
The two table tennis bronzes pushed Uganda’s medal tally at the Games to three, all bronze. Earlier, middle-distance runner Keren Chelimo opened the country’s account with a third-place finish in the women’s 3,000 metres.
Uganda remains active in other disciplines, including swimming, dance sport and 3×3 basketball.
In swimming, Isaac Kuc clocked 56.71 seconds in the men’s 100m freestyle, finishing fifth in his heat and 10th overall to place among the reserves.
