Ekiring gets Uganda bronze medal

Jul 19, 2007

EDWIN Ekiring lost his nerve when it mattered most in what was supposed to be an easy semi-final yesterday. There were jubilations nevertheless in the Ugandan camp to celebrate the bronze, the first medal in what had until that point been a disastrous run at the games.

By James Bakama
in Algiers


EDWIN Ekiring lost his nerve when it mattered most in what was supposed to be an easy semi-final yesterday.

There were jubilations nevertheless in the Ugandan camp to celebrate the bronze, the first medal in what had until that point been a disastrous run at the games.

Ekiring got off to an explosive start, leading Zambia’s Elly Mambwe 9-4 but cracked mid-way through the first set at Algiers’ El Biar Hall.

A string of bad shots by Ekiring enabled Mambwe to claw back and take charge and win 21-7, 21-9.

A frustrated Ekiring at one point in the first set threw away his racket, earning himself a yellow card.

He later conceded that he got frustrated struggling against an opponent he always beat in training.

“I played terribly. I should have kept cool and made up in the second set,” he later said.

South Africa had earlier dashed hopes of a second bronze when they stopped Ekiring and Abraham Wogute in the doubles.

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