Ugandan teens end 15-year wait for Table Tennis Worlds

Uganda's young table tennis stars, Parvin Nangonzi and Jemimah Nakawala, have been officially flagged off to represent the country at the 2025 World Table Tennis Championships in Doha, Qatar, running from May 16 to 25.

The duo, both students at Kibuli Secondary School and players at Nakasero Table Tennis Club, earned their place in the prestigious tournament through consistent performances in International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-sanctioned events since 2022.

Their qualification marks a historic moment for Ugandan table tennis, as it ends a 15-year absence from the World Championships. Nangonzi and Nakawala are among only 11 elite players from Africa selected to compete in this year’s event.

Their path to Doha was paved through a series of continental successes: A bronze medal at the 2022 East African Championships in Ethiopia, silver in Djibouti (2023) and gold on home soil in Uganda (2024)

They further boosted their rankings by reaching the quarterfinals at the African Games and securing a team gold for Uganda in the 2024 continental tournament.

Despite the absence of their coach Alvin Katumba, who was unable to travel due to logistical challenges, the pair heads into the competition in strong form.

“We have been training hard, especially for the doubles. They also recently won gold for Kibuli SSS at the USSSA championships,” said coach Katumba.

National Council of Sports (NCS) officials Joseph Oloka and Annet Nankya officially flagged off the team, urging them to aim for positive results.

Accompanying the players is Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) president Robert Jjagwe, who will also attend the ITTF elective general assembly during the championships.

“We congratulate them for making Uganda fly high after 15 years. The competition is stiff,” said Jjagwe, praising the players' hard work and UTTA’s long-standing partnership with NCS.

He emphasized that love for the sport, discipline, and dedication have been crucial to Nangonzi and Nakawala’s success.

Nangonzi will feature in both the singles and doubles, teaming up with Nakawala as Uganda eyes a strong return to the international table tennis stage.