Sebatindira bags three gold medals, sets sights on world number one

Winning gold in sport is never a walk in the park, but Uganda's junior table tennis star Joseph Sebatindira has proven to be an exceptional talent on the global stage.

He has kick-started 2026 in impressive fashion, winning three gold medals from four World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender tournaments in the first quarter of the year.

The WTT Youth Contender series attracts players from across the globe and features categories including U13, U15, U17, and U19.

After topping the 11 years age category for three years, the youngster is now targeting a rise to world number one in the Under-13 category.

His transition to U13 has brought new challenges, both for him and his mentors at Nakasero Table Tennis Club, where he is coached by Alvin Katumba.

Sebatindira began his international campaign in January at Doha, where he secured a silver medal after losing 3-0 in the final to Malaysia's Koh Wei Yeuw.

In February, he bounced back at the Vila Real WTT Youth Contender in Portugal, clinching his first gold medal of the year after defeating Spain's Luca Lomero in straight sets 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-3) in the final.

Following two weeks of training in France, he won gold at the same tournament organized in Germany.

Sebatindira then extended his dominance to the tournament in Havirov, Czech Republic, which concluded on Saturday, March 14. He defeated Romania's Matei Nitafeol 3-1 (11–9, 16–18, 11–6, 11–9) in the final to claim his third gold of the year.

The Czech tournament also featured three other juniors from Nakasero Table Tennis Club, with Patience Anyango winning a silver medal. Anyango is the reigning African Under-11 girls' champion and a member of the national women's team that has qualified for the World Championships in London next month.

Sebatindira's latest triumph came with strong support from fellow club members, including Ashraf Nsereko and Patra Nasirumbi, who travelled alongside coach Phillip Napokoli. Both Nsereko and Nasirumbi also competed in the tournament.

Club proprietor Mary Musoke said the club is committed to giving more young players international exposure.

"The club is not only focusing on Sebatindira but also nurturing many other young talents. That is why we gave them the opportunity to travel despite the high costs involved," Musoke said.

Coach Katumba described the victories in Portugal, Germany, and the Czech Republic as a strong comeback for the youngster following his opening loss in Doha.

"I wish we could secure more funding for more international tours because world rankings are determined by points accumulated over time in a specific age category," Katumba noted.

Catching up with studies

Despite his sporting success, Sebatindira's academic progress remains a key concern for his handlers.

Musoke emphasized that the club is committed to balancing both education and sport, not only for Sebatindira but also for their other young stars.

"We are pursuing a double-edged approach. While Sebatindira continues to excel on the international stage, we are equally focused on his academic performance," she said.

She revealed that despite his busy training and competition schedule, Sebatindira performed well academically, finishing 27th out of 70 pupils in Primary Five and scoring a distinction in Mathematics.

Musoke noted that maintaining a world number one ranking requires frequent participation in ITTF events, which presents a challenge in balancing school and sport. To address this, the club organizes special classes to help him keep up with his studies.

This year, Sebatindira shifted from Nakasero Primary School to Kansanga Primary School in Makindye Division, another UPE school, and is progressing well, according to his class teacher, Eliphaz Luzige.

"We know he has been away and goes for international tournaments. So, we have been organizing his studies while away. I specifically teach Social Studies, and he is doing well," Luzige noted.

The school headteacher, Jalia Nakayizi, is anxious to have a pupil tagged as world number one in the World Youth Table Tennis Contender Championships at her school.

"We are looking at him to inspire fellow pupils to take up table tennis because we currently only have football, netball, and athletics. We don't have table tennis, and if we get funds, the sport would kick off at the school. I call on the public to donate a table for the game so we can start," Nakayizi noted.

Sebatindira switched schools after his mother left Nakasero Primary School.

He said adaptation has been key, and he remains focused on his studies.

"I have integrated into the European community during competitions, and it has been easy for the school. I keep studying even while away," Sebatindira noted.

His mother, Benita Nakanwagi, said that while all her six children are linked to playing table tennis, they also focus on education.

"They have all at one time represented the country apart from the youngest, who is in P3. I call upon fellow parents to support their children to excel in sports but also focus on education," Nakanwagi noted.

She thanked the club, the coaches, and the Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) for guiding the young talent.