Uganda’s badminton stars eye podium finish at World Championships in Paris

National badminton coach William Kabindi is confident that Uganda’s top players will deliver a strong performance at the 2025 BWF World Championships, set to take place from August 25 to 31 at the Adidas Arena in Paris.

Kabindi will travel with national stars Fadilah Shamika and Tracy Naluwooza, who qualified for the prestigious event as Africa’s top-ranked women’s doubles pair. Shamika will also compete in the singles draw, marking a historic moment as the duo becomes the first Ugandan women to qualify for the World Championships.

Currently training at Mbogo High School, Kabindi praised their preparation:  “They’ve mastered the technique over the years. Now it’s about fitness and consistency,” he said. 

 
He emphasized that fitness helps players stay sharp and avoid errors, while consistency ensures precision in shot placement.

Shamika, fresh off reaching the round of 16 at the World University Championship in Germany last month, says she’s ready to shine: “The Kabaka event was a comeback from injury. I’m now fit and focused for Paris,” she noted.

The pair recently finished second at the 32nd Kabaka Coronation Badminton Championship held at Lugogo Arena, a promising sign ahead of their global outing.

Uganda Badminton Federation CEO Simon Mugabi confirmed that the government is covering the team’s expenses and that visa processing is underway. The trio is scheduled to depart on August 21 to acclimatize before the tournament begins.