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2024 Paris Olympic Games spot search will resume for Uganda Badminton teams as they head out to Egypt to participate in the in All Africa Senior championship for men dubbed Thomas Cup and Women dubbed Uber Cup.
A team of ten individuals (eight players,four girls and boys plus two coaches) was flagged off at the NCS Arena on Friday by NCS which was represented by Administrative Secretary Mr. Kasumba James.
With the tournaments set to start on the 12th of February and climax on four days later (18th), both teams will leave on Saturday morning 04:40am, boarding Egyptian Airlines.
This tournament will be an opportunity to see that they make it to the World famous event for the third time in history.
Talking to the press on Friday morning, Mr Kasumba James stated that with Olympics as a major event as Government, NCS will support Badminton to the last bit of qualification;
Kasumba James at Lugogo | Photo Crédit: Kayiira Jackson
“As NCS we represent government, have priority sports and priority events, Olympics is among the priority events we have, so any team that is engaging in qualifiers towards that event, we take it very serious and the tournament as well.”
“Today we have flagged off the badminton team, that needs points to qualify to the 2024 Olympics and I would like to encourage players to believe in themselves”
“The girls and boys have been on such platforms and so Egypt can not scare them since have good technical team and got the right training they got and I believe the worst they can return home with is the silver medal if not a gold.” Kasumba concluded.
The Uganda team coach, Kabindi William said the team is well prepared;
“The team is well prepared, we have been in non Residential Camp but I would say that all players are really in high gear but still don’t have major injuries”he said
Adding that ; “I am sure we’re going to put up a very good fight even better than what we did the other time we had Thomas and Uber Cup here in Uganda.”
For Africa’s number one in women category Fadilah Shamika, a lady with higher chances to be the first female player to represent Uganda in Olympics.
Fadilah Shamika at the flag off | Photo Credit : Kayiira Jackson.
“I believe that am ready for the Africa championship since have been training for this for the past one and half months” she stated
Adding that she hopes to put up a good performance and get the points to qualify for the Olympics.” .
The Women’s team will be captained by Gladys Mbabazi while Amos Muyanja for the Men.
Players
Girls
L-R- Tracy Naluwooza, Gladys Mbabazi, Fadilah Shamika and Husina Kobugabe.
- Gladys Mbabazi
- Fadilah Shamika
- Tracy Naluwooza
- Husina Kobugabe.
Boys
- Muyanja Amos
- Muzafaru Lubega
- Expedito Emudu
- Augustus Owinyi.
Uganda‘s last appearances at the Olympics were in 2008 (Beijing China) and 2012 ( London UK) respectively with Edwin Ekiringi in both.
