Uganda’s young table tennis players made their mark at the ITTF African Youth Championships in Lagos, Nigeria, returning home with silver and bronze medals.
Teenagers Jemimah Nakawala and Parvin Judith Nangonzi took silver in the U19 girls’ doubles after falling to Egypt’s Abdelshakour Malak and Zaki Nour in the final. The Egyptians won in straight sets: 11-8, 11-3, 11-8.
In the U15 boys’ doubles, Shariff Nsereko and Joseph Sebatindira earned bronze. They won the opening set against Egypt’s Sameh Asser and Abdelhalim Mohammed but lost the next three: 11-6, 11-9, 11-6.
Nsereko, one of Uganda’s standout performers winning the most improved player award, also reached the U15 boys’ singles semifinals but was stopped by Algeria’s Zouitene Bilal in straight sets.
In the U15 mixed doubles, Nsereko teamed up with Patience Anyango in a five-set thriller against Nigeria’s Adebakin Tobi and Rabiu Aishat. After coming back from two sets down, the Ugandans lost a close final set 11-8.
With medals and experience in hand, the team; Sebatindira, Anyango, Nakawala, Nsereko, and Nangonzi now shifts focus to the African Youth Cup, guided by coaches Alvin Katumba and Tendo Balyewunya.
