Uganda’s Shamika,Naluwooza Clinch Silver as Malaysia Dominates 2025 Uganda International Badminton Series
By: Kayiira Jackson
The Ugandan badminton duo Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi and Tracy Naluwooza showcased outstanding talent at the 2025 Uganda International Badminton Series, earning silver medals in the women’s doubles category after falling 2–0 to Switzerland’s Jenjira Stadelmann and Leila Zarrouk in the final held on Sunday at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
Despite the defeat, the Ugandan pair’s remarkable run to the final drew widespread praise, marking one of Uganda’s standout performances in the tournament. Shamika credited their success to “intense training, focus, and learning from past mistakes,” stressing the need to keep improving ahead of the upcoming East Africa City Tyres Challenge. The pair has already begun preparations for a month-long training camp to sharpen their form.
Overall, Malaysia dominated the tournament, collecting an impressive 10 medals — 4 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze — to top the medal standings. India followed with 1 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze medals, while Uganda bagged 6 medals (2 silver and 4 bronze), underscoring the growing strength of the local players on the regional stage.
Medal Summary
Women’s Doubles
Gold: Jenjira Stadelmann & Leila Zarrouk (Switzerland)
Silver: Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi & Tracy Naluwooza (Uganda)
Bronze: Lim Xuan & Joanne Ng (Malaysia); Meble Namakoye & Rajab Shamsa Mbira (Uganda)
Men’s Singles
Gold: Hein Htut (Myanmar)
Silver: M. Ariffin Nazri Md Zakaria (Malaysia)
Mixed Doubles
Gold: Zi Xiang Chong & Joanne Ng (Malaysia)
Silver: Kuldeep Kamal & Aheri Paul (India)
Bronze: Ashraf Daniel Md Zakaria & Lim Xuan (Malaysia); Muzafaru Lubega & Husina Kobugabe (Uganda)
Men’s Doubles
Gold: Ashraf Daniel Md Zakaria & M. Ariffin Nazri Md Zakaria (Malaysia)
Silver: Tanmoy Bikash Boruah & Kuldeep Kamal (India)
Bronze: Dharmagna Mandapati & Chiranjeevi Reddy Sundar (India)
Women’s Singles
Gold: Rujula Ramu (India)
Silver: Joanne Ng (Malaysia)
Bronze: Sausan Dwi Ramadhani (Indonesia)
Uganda’s consistent performances — highlighted by Shamika and Naluwooza’s silver and Namakoye’s bronze — reflect the country’s steady rise in international badminton. With stronger regional tournaments on the horizon, Uganda’s shuttlers are eyeing even greater success in the months ahead.