Four Ugandan para-badminton players have reached the singles finals of the 4th edition of the Africa Para-Badminton Championship, which is being held in Kampala, Uganda.
Elizabeth Mwesigwa, Sarah Nazziwa, Hasin Mubiru, and Flavia Basuuta will all compete for gold medals in their respective categories on Sunday, July 16 after winning their semifinal games on Saturday.
Road to the Final
To reach the final, Mwesigwa defeated her countrymate Rose Nansereko by 21-12, 21-12 in the SL3 category, and is waiting to face Mariam Eniola Bolaji from Nigeria.
In the game of the day, Mubiru fought hard to get past 23-21, 21-15 against Egypt’s Joun Khaled Ohaeri (23-21, 21-15). Mubiru will be facing Nigeria’s Chigozie Jeremiah Nnanna in the men’s single SL4 category final.
Mubiru in action
Nazziwa’s road to the final was rather smooth. She got a walkover against her countrymate Jennifer Bumali Kabuwo who failed to showup. Nazziwa will play Flavia Basuuta in the final stage in the women’s singles WH1 category.
The last finalist, Basuuta defeated fellow countrymate Sylivisa Nakanda in a game that ended 21-13, 21-12.
Opportunity in the Mixed Doubles
Away from the singles finals, Uganda still has chances of winning gold in both men’s and women’s mixed doubles.
In the SL3-SL4 finals, Hasin Mubiru and David Mukisa will face Nigeria’s James Thompson Akpan and Gbenga Sunday Olanipekun.
In the women’s doubles final, Sumini Mutesi, and Rose Nansereko will play against Mariam Eniola Bolaji and Chinyere Lucky Okoro from Nigeria in the SL3-SU5.
Brian Mugabe and Ali Mukasa will face Egypt’s Mohamed Hassan Mohamed and Atef Adelkarim Mahmoud.
Sarah Nazziwa and Ali Mukasa will be fighting to win a gold medal in the mixed doubles WH1-WH2 finals against Atef Adelkarim Mahmoud and Shaimaa Samy Abdellatif from Egypt.
Win-win situation for Uganda
According to Ronald Lule the head coach for the Uganda para badminton team, his team is in a position to win two gold medals.
“We already have a sure deal of one gold medal in women’s singles WH1 where Nazziwa is going to face Basuuta. Anyone that will win that will be gold for Uganda,” Lule told Nnalubaale Sports.
Nazziwa in action
The Africa Para-Badminton Championship is a qualifying event for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
The finals of the Africa Para-Badminton Championship will be held on Sunday, July 16 at the Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala, Uganda.
Courtesy Photos
