ITTF E. Africa Regional Championships: Uganda shines under the Madagascar Shadow
By: Hassan Zaki Ssendija
Uganda won five medals to finish behind Madagascar at the East Africa Regional table tennis Championships that has climaxed on Thursday at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
The event that attracted seven nations; Uganda the host, Rwanda, Madagascar, Sudan, Mauritius, Djibouti and Kenya, had team events and individual events, tee off on Monday and Climaxed on Thursday.
In team events category, Uganda bettered Madagascar winning a gold medal , a silver in Women’s category as Madagascar finished with a Gold Medal in male while Kenya and Rwanda walked with Bronze and Silver respectively.
Madagascar edged Uganda in individual events winning both gold medals in women and male category.
Uganda finished second by winning a silver Medal through Parvin Nangonzi adding bronze Medals for Jemimah Nakawala, Samuel Ankunda and Jonathan Ssenyonga.
Also it was quietly a general fair performance for Uganda as 3 male players and 5 female players all finished in top 8.
Post of the event Uganda table tennis president Robert Jaggwe was Joyful
“As the nation, it’s exciting for us to have this remarkable event, and it’s a steady progress for team Uganda entirely for female side.”
“In 2022 they won a Bronze, 2023 won a silver Medal and now 2024 it’s a gold that is what we mean by steady progres” he added.
Out of the 16 nations, top two teams as per Men and women’s qualifiers for Africa Senior Championship which will take place in Ethiopia later this year.
Uganda wins 3 medals at singles and two at team event.
Medal standings:
Women
Rwanda won Bronze
Kenya won Silver
Uganda won Gold
Men
Uganda won Silver
Madagascar won Gold
Singles
Women
Final
Raharimanana Hanitra 4-1 Parvin Nangonzi
(9-11) (11-7) (11-6) (11-5) (12-10)
Third place
Jemimah Nakawala 3-0 Dasscann Sandhana
(11-8) (11-9) (11-8)
Semifinal
Raharimanana Hanitra 4-3 Jemimah Nakawala
(8-11) (14-12) (4-11) (17-19) (11-7) (11-7) (11-9)
Dasscann Sandhana 1-4 Parvin Nangonzi
(9-11) (11-5) (9-11) (5-11) (9-11)
Boys
Final
Antoine Razafinarivo 1-4 Fabio Rakotoarimanana
(12-14) (11-5) (2-11) (10-12) (12-14)
Third place
Jonathan Ssenyonga 1-3 Samuel Ankunda
(12-10) (4-11) (6-11) (7-11)
Semifinal
Samuel Ankunda 1-4 Fabio Rakotoarimanana
(7-11) (5-11) (11-3) (5-11) (7-11)
Antoine Razafinarivo 4-1 Jonathan Ssenyonga
(11-1) (11-6) (11-3) (8-11) (11-9)
Fifth place
Joseph Ssebatindira 3-2 Stephen Ravonison
(4-11) (11-8) (3-11) (11-5) (11-8)