Uganda begins quest for Commonwealth glory
Jul 23, 2014
UGANDA’S quest for medals at the 20th Commonwealth Games starts off with a badminton encounter against Kenya. The two nations clash in one of the opening fixtures of the mixed group encounters
By James Bakama in Glasgow
Thursday
Badminton
Kenya v Uganda (11am)
Squash
Uganda v Papua N. Guinea (1pm)
Wales v Uganda (14.30pm)
Swimming: (1:35pm)
Table tennis: (14:35pm)
UGANDA’S quest for medals at the 20th Commonwealth Games starts off with a badminton encounter against Kenya.
The two nations clash in one of the opening fixtures of the mixed group encounters at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.
Top seed Edwin Ekiring leads teammates Wilson Tukire, Daisey Nakalyango and Margaret Nankabirwa to battle against Victor Odera, Mercy Joseph, Levina Martin, Patrick Kinyua, Joseph Matheri and Sheila O.
The team encounter comprises of men and ladies singles, men and ladies doubles together with the mixed doubles.
Uganda is also grouped with Ghana and India in a pool where the top two teams will advance to the quarter-finals. Uganda will later in the days face India.
The top six from the three groups will thereafter be followed by the best two second placed teams.
Badminton coach William Kabindi is confident Uganda can advance to the next stage.
“Our only worry should be India, but what’s most important the team is set for action.”
Also in action this morning will be Uganda’s squash team with top seed Michael Kawooya on court first.
He takes on Papua New Guinea’s Schubert Maketu in the men’s singles round of 123.
Ian Rukunya will thereafter face Welshman Peter Creed. Creed is a 2010 World University champion.
Uganda’s third participant Paul Kadoma could miss out on the action because of laxity of his home squash body.
He was apparently not entered for the singles and will as a result only pray a chance arises for him to serve as a substitute in the doubles.
The focus next shifts to the pool with Uganda’s teenagers Jamila Lunkuse and Arnold Kisulo.
UK based Lunkuse, a 2012 London Olympian, will be competing in the women’s 50 and 100 meter breast stroke while Kisulo will contest in the 100m backstroke and 50m fly.
The Ugandan table tennis trio of Gilton Chelibe, Kevin Masaba sand Paul Mutambuze will also be in action against Scotland.
Meanwhile Kampala Capital City Authority Executive Director Jennifer Musisi will pay a courtesy visit to the team on Thursday.
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