Ssebatindira, Nakawala fight to keep Youth Olympics hopes alive
The Polish player, ranked number 10, won the first two sets 11-4, 11-7 before Ssebatindira fought back to take the third 11-6. However, the more experienced Polish player secured the fourth set 11-4 to seal victory.
It was the second time the Tunisian pair had eliminated the Ugandans. (Photos by Julius Kafuluma)
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Ugandan table tennis player Joseph Ssebatindira lost his opening singles match 3-1 to Poland's Zyworonek Patryk in Group 8 of the men's singles competition.
The Polish player, ranked number 10, won the first two sets 11-4, 11-7 before Ssebatindira fought back to take the third 11-6. However, the more experienced Polish player secured the fourth set 11-4 to seal victory.
Ssebatindira will now have to win his remaining two matches to progress to the round of 16.
In the women's singles, Jemima Nakawala also lost 3-1 to Poland's Rajkoska Katarzyna in their group match.
Nakawala lost the first set 11-5 despite taking an early 4-0 lead. She drew level by winning the second set 12-10 but struggled in the remaining two, losing them 11-2 and 11-0.
Ssebatindira and Nakawala were also eliminated in the round of 32 of the mixed doubles competition held at the Expo Centre in Dakar on Saturday. The Ugandan pair lost 3-0 in straight sets to Tunisia's experienced duo of Adli Youssef and Sadi Ela, who won 11-5, 13-11 and 11-6.
It was the second time the Tunisian pair had eliminated the Ugandans. The two sides first met at the ANOCA Games in Angola late last year, where the Tunisians won 3-0 in the preliminary rounds.
Rower Otim exits at round of 32
Uganda's rower Marcel Otim was eliminated in the round of 32 of the men's solo beach sprint at Saly Beach on the Atlantic Ocean coast on Saturday.
The 17-year-old US-based rower finished 31st in the opening time trial on Saturday, clocking 3:24.00, before improving to 24th in the second and final time trial on Sunday.
His coach, Batenga Nakisozi, was pleased with his improvement despite the stiff competition.
“Otim was facing some of the world's best young coastal rowers but stayed calm and composed throughout every stage of the race, fortunately he has been accepted in a prestigious rowing program to row in the USA for the next 4 years as he prepares for Brisbane 2032,” Nakisozi said.
Mary Peyton Ssuubi was the first Ugandan to compete in the pool, taking part in the women's 400m freestyle at Complexe Tour de l'Oeuf.
Action resumes with Arthur Mwase and Peterson Inhensiko competing in the men's 100m freestyle, while Mbanga Marie Zara will take part in the women's 200m breaststroke.
Selected results
Badminton, Group C
Ramiah Bukenya (UGA) 0-2 Cruz Micah (USA)
Table tennis, men's singles preliminary round
Joseph Ssebatindira (UGA) 1-3 Zyworonek Patryk (POL)
Table tennis, women's singles preliminary round
Rajkoska Katarzyna (POL) 3-1 Jemima Nakawala (UGA)
Swimming, women's 400m freestyle, Heat 2
- Zouachi Lief (TUN) 4:29.42
- Aidaralieva Aiymkyz (KGZ) 4:32.53
- Berg Maddison (NAM) 4:37.03
- Ssuubi Mary Peyton (UGA) 4:52.59