Ekiring showed glory in ‘small’ sports
Jul 19, 2007
AFTER years of benefiting from the Olympic Solidarity training programme, preparing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Edwin Ekiring has started proving his worth at international level. The Kampala Club player, also USPA badminton Player-of-the-Year, has stood out on the local scene. He has not lo
By James Bakama
and Norman Katende
Age: 23
World Ranking: 133
African Ranking: 2
Accolades: All Africa Games Bronze medallist;
Africa Badminton Championships Bronze medal
AFTER years of benefiting from the Olympic Solidarity training programme, preparing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Edwin Ekiring has started proving his worth at international level.
The Kampala Club player, also USPA badminton Player-of-the-Year, has stood out on the local scene. He has not lost a set in the last three years. He has even taken his challenge higher by taking on not only the continent’s but the world’s best.
His performance at international level has brought a ray of hope for the hitherto small sport.
Ekiring’s racket technique was boosted by the training stint in South Africa. He is currently in the high training centre in Germany.
“He is the most exposed Ugandan player currently and has had a chance of playing against the world top brass in either training or international tournaments. This has helped him gain experience in international competitions and giving him a better approach to the game,†his coach Simon Mugabi said of the player, who is set to celebrate his 23rd birthday on December 28.
His approach to the game has greatly improved as exhibited at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games where the world body — The International Badminton Federation — reviewed him as the new badminton wonder-kid on the continent.
His appearing could not be reflected better than the experience Ekiring has had after in international tournaments like the Hungary Invitational, Dutch Open and Scottish Open. He was stopped in the second round in both the Hungary and Scotland events, and in the fourth round in the Dutch Open. In Scotland, he was beaten by Stephen Vaughan, the player who had beaten him in the finals of the Kenyan Open.
Meanwhile, the world badminton body has granted Uganda an international ranking tournament.
The good news was announced yesterday at a IBF meeting in Algiers, also attended by Mugabi.
“This is a big boost for Uganda,†noted Mugabi explaining that Ugandan players without an opportunity to feature in such tournaments abroad, now have a chance to score points locally.
The annual tournament will be called the Uganda International. The first edition will be staged in January at Lugogo.
and Norman Katende
Age: 23
World Ranking: 133
African Ranking: 2
Accolades: All Africa Games Bronze medallist;
Africa Badminton Championships Bronze medal
AFTER years of benefiting from the Olympic Solidarity training programme, preparing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Edwin Ekiring has started proving his worth at international level.
The Kampala Club player, also USPA badminton Player-of-the-Year, has stood out on the local scene. He has not lost a set in the last three years. He has even taken his challenge higher by taking on not only the continent’s but the world’s best.
His performance at international level has brought a ray of hope for the hitherto small sport.
Ekiring’s racket technique was boosted by the training stint in South Africa. He is currently in the high training centre in Germany.
“He is the most exposed Ugandan player currently and has had a chance of playing against the world top brass in either training or international tournaments. This has helped him gain experience in international competitions and giving him a better approach to the game,†his coach Simon Mugabi said of the player, who is set to celebrate his 23rd birthday on December 28.
His approach to the game has greatly improved as exhibited at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games where the world body — The International Badminton Federation — reviewed him as the new badminton wonder-kid on the continent.
His appearing could not be reflected better than the experience Ekiring has had after in international tournaments like the Hungary Invitational, Dutch Open and Scottish Open. He was stopped in the second round in both the Hungary and Scotland events, and in the fourth round in the Dutch Open. In Scotland, he was beaten by Stephen Vaughan, the player who had beaten him in the finals of the Kenyan Open.
Meanwhile, the world badminton body has granted Uganda an international ranking tournament.
The good news was announced yesterday at a IBF meeting in Algiers, also attended by Mugabi.
“This is a big boost for Uganda,†noted Mugabi explaining that Ugandan players without an opportunity to feature in such tournaments abroad, now have a chance to score points locally.
The annual tournament will be called the Uganda International. The first edition will be staged in January at Lugogo.