Uganda International Series: “We’re only going for Gold”, Uganda’s Female Duo Very Confident
By: Hassan Zaki Ssendija
As Uganda International Series getting to it’s climax on Sunday, Uganda’s duo Fadilah Shamika Muhammad Rafi and Tracy Naluwooza are eyeing gold medal in Women doubles.
To reach final, Fadilah and Tracy beat Aleena Qathun and Nayonika Rajesh from United Arab Emirates 2-0 sets straight.
Fadilah who didn’t show up in the just concluded Kampala International Future Series and Tracy Naluwooza had a poor show in the same tournament but in this, the two are targeting gold medals.
“We only want gold medal, yes it is our first senior final but we have been together for quiet a good time, we understand each other and we are good to win our final tomorrow” Says Fadilah Shamika after winning the semis.
Another Uganda women doubles pair of Husina Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi have already settled for a bronze having lost their semi’s to Rutaparna Panda and Swataparna Panda of India.
In Men’s Doubles, Brian Kasirye and Muzafaru Lubega are also in finals after overcoming Muhammad Mahdi Mirshekari and Saleh Sangtarash from Iran as while Expedito Emuddu and Augustus Owinyi has a bronze at hand after being beaten by Mathew Abela/ Maxim Grinblat from Malta and Israel.
Simon Mugabi the CEO of Uganda Badminton Association has expressed that Uganda players are having brighter chances to qualify for Olympics 2024 based on their performance at this tournament which is closing tomorrow.
“Our players are with good chances to make it to Paris 2024, they have performed well, they have reached Quarters, semi’s and finals, that means that they have secured some good points since we are in Olympics qualifiers, howei, they have to play in all remaining qualifying events which are 6 in number”. Says Simon Mugabi.
Finals schedules:
Starting at 11:00
Mixed Doubles
Koceila Mammeri/ Tanina Violette Mammeri (Algeria) Vs Caden Kakora/Johanita Scholtz (South Africa)
Women’s Doubles
Rutaparna Panda/Swetaparna Panda (India) Vs Fadilah Shimika Muhammad Rafi/Tracy Naluwooza (Uganda)
Men’s Doubles
Mathew Abela/Maxim Grinblat (Malta/Israel) Vs Brian Kasirye/Muzafaru Lubega (Uganda)
Women’s Singles
Megana Reddy Mereddy (India) Vs Wiktoria Dabczynska (Poland)
Men’s Singles
Vishal Vasudevan (INDIA) Vs Luis Ramon Garrido.