Uganda International Challenge: Tournament Shuttles off, Fair Start for the Hosts

The Uganda International Challenge 2023 shuttles off on Wednesday at Lugogo Indoor Arena.

The event that changed name from Uganda international tournament to challenge has attracted 48 nations with over 400 participants.

The tournament whose points add to Olympic games 2024 qualifiers, World Championship, it has started today, Wednesday 22nd, 2023 and will climax on Sunday 2023.

Simon Mugabi, Uganda Badminton Association CEO revealed that the turn up has been good since the tournament helps athletes the gather points that can qualify them to Asian games, Olympics and world’s Championships.

” The tournament has 49 nations, it has started today here at Lugogo and will end on Sunday, today has been qualifying games and those who will Quality will go in the main draws of 64 in both men an women.” Said Mugabi 

The tournament have started with individual challenges, but it’s a knockout stage, whoever loses a game, just packs and Uganda’s Kasirye Brian lost his first game in the morning against Indian Aditya Gupta 21-03,16-21,21-11.

Another Uganda’s star to be knocked out at round one is the All Africa Badminton Senior Championship gold medalist Fadilah Shamika and she put her loss to the lack of the lack of rest time after leaving South Africa and even the mistakes she made while playing.

“The game was not bad because I got 16-21, 18-21 from her and she is a good player, but their were few minor mistakes that’s why I lost, I feel I could do better.” Says Fadilah Shamika.

She added: “May lack of enough time to rest because I was very tired but again I would do better but I have shifted my focus to juniors that’s are coming next.” 

Though Kasirye and Fadilah lost their first games, but Husna Kobugabe, Gladys Mbabazi and Tracy Naluwooza won their games and moved to the next Level.

Before Uganda made 90 entries but due to tightness of the tournament, only 30 Ugandans managed to make it to the qualifying draws.