Uganda is Para-badminton Open favourite

Ugandan players have higher chances of dominating the quarterfinal following thier performences at the second edition of the International Para-badminton Open that ends on Sunday at the Indoor arena, Lugogo in Kampala.

The domestic players who seen to be familiar with their home court, started the five days contest in high gear with majority making it past the group stages.

In the women's Standing Lower (SL 3) category, defending champion Elizabeth Mwesigwa walloped her Cameroonian opponent Jacqueline Ntsama 2-0, (21-9, 21-3) in the first game.

She, however, later succumbed to Lucky Okoro of Nigeria in a tightly contested match that ended 21-19 and 21-11, but still topped the table in the Pool A of three players.

The mixed results still qualifies Mwesigwe to the next round where she will be facing Cameroons Cristance Moffouo on Saturday.

Her colleague Moffouo had also earlier won two of her three matches to finish at the top of pool B table. She beat Naomi Sarpong and Rose Nansereko at the SL 4 classification that attracted a total of seven participants.

 A colleague celebrates with Elizabeth Mwesigwa (right) after winning her first game at the Uganda International Para-badminton Open at Lugogo. PHOTO: David Namunyala

Meanwhile, in the other women's singles, SL 4 category, Uganda's Khadija Khamuka is preparing for the semifinals after topping her group.

She beat teammate Prossy Nakalema and Asha Kipwene (2-0) each to progress from the Pool A category.

She is scheduled to play Ghana's Issah Zinabu on Saturday at the same venue.

The annual tournament has attracted 73 participants from 16 countries including Israel, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, India, Kenya, Scotland, France, Nigeria, Poland, Brazil and Malaysia.

Uganda International Para-badminton Open

Selected results

Singles

Men:

SL 4

Denis Grzesiuk (POL) bt James Ongaria (UGA), 2-0

Charles Kizza  (UGA) bt Michel Lubangakene (UGA) 2-0

WH 2,

Madzlan Saibon (MYS) bt Ali Mukasa (UGA), 2-0

SU 5,

Liek Hou (MYS) bt George Byarugaba (UGA), 2-0

Sugil Abbas (IND) bt Mohammed Azumah (GHA), 2-0

Women

SL 3

Lucky Okoro (NGA) bt Elizabeth Mwesigwa (UGA), 2-0

Naomi Sarpong (GHA) bt Rose Nansereko (UGA), 2-0

Gift Chukwuemeka (NGA) bt Cristance Moffouo (CMR), 2-0