Women’s Badminton Doubles: Uganda v Algeria (23-21, 21-14)

Badminton duo Husnah Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi on Sunday, March 10, won Uganda’s first gold medal at the ongoing 13th edition of the African Games in Accra, Ghana.

Kobugabe and Mbabazi defeated the Algerian duo of Halla Bouksani and Tanina Violette Mammeri in the final 23-21 in the first set and 21-14 in the second set.

They stormed into the finals after an impressive showdown in the semis on Sunday afternoon, edging Egyptian duo Ahmed Youssri and Hany Doha in a 2-0 victory.

The 33-minute-long final was played at the multipurpose Boytman Sports Complex.

Kobugabe is thrilled with her teammate to have won Uganda’s first gold medal at the games.

“We are delighted to have won the first gold medal at the games and feel thrilled to have our national anthem played at the grand stage,” a beaming Kobugabe noted after the final.

The duo expressed the highest level of bond amongst themselves by not giving the Algerian opponents a chance to get easy points.

Uganda grabbed the win after levelling terms with the Algerians in the first set at three intervals; 19-19, 20-20, and 21-apiece, but scored two crucial points to take the lead.

Uganda dominated the second set and whitewashed the Algerians on the way to victory.

The victory sent the Ugandan fans in the gallery led by Member of Parliament Susan Ameru, into a frenzy.

Coach William Labindi was overjoyed that his players had not let his dream die.

“It is a dream come true for badminton to win the first gold medal at the games. It was our motive to come to stage a fight and go back home victorious which we have achieved,” Labindi happily noted.

"I am also happy that the girls played a very composed game working together as a unit and their efforts paid off," he added.

Mbabazi won bronze in the last edition of the games in Rabat with Aisha Nakiyemba but has shown just how much of an improved player she has become by clinching gold with Kobugabe.

The duo join swimmer Gloria Muzito and bring Uganda’s medal tally at the games to two.