Two get wildcards to Beijing games
May 19, 2008
SWIMMERS Aya Nakitanda and Gilbert Kaburu have joined Uganda’s team to the Beijing Olympic Games on special invitations from the world swimming federation. <br>
By Norman Katende
SWIMMERS Aya Nakitanda and Gilbert Kaburu have joined Uganda’s team to the Beijing Olympic Games on special invitations from the world swimming federation.
But badminton player Edwin Ekiring will have to wait until the end of June to know whether a wild card will be availed to him to compete in the games.
Uganda Olympic Committee president Maj. Gen. Francis Nyangweso yesterday confirmed that the swimmers entered a male and female athlete as per the rules governing the game, which call for each country to enter at least male and female athletes, in case they do not qualify directly. They will both be competing in the 50m freestyle.
“We applied to have badminton, weightlifting and tennis players invited by the organisers, after they failed to qualify,†said Nyangweso yesterday.
“It will also depend on how the other players in their sport have been performing.â€
Ekiring and Zambian Elly Mwambe are at the Olympic Solidarity high performance centre in Germany as the centre bargains for wildcards for them. Others who failed to qualify left.
The swimmers bring to eight the team bound for Beijing after boxer Ronald Serugo and athletes Moses Kipsiro, Abraham Chepkirwok, Alex Malinga, Benjamin Kiplagat and Boniface Kiprop.
SWIMMERS Aya Nakitanda and Gilbert Kaburu have joined Uganda’s team to the Beijing Olympic Games on special invitations from the world swimming federation.
But badminton player Edwin Ekiring will have to wait until the end of June to know whether a wild card will be availed to him to compete in the games.
Uganda Olympic Committee president Maj. Gen. Francis Nyangweso yesterday confirmed that the swimmers entered a male and female athlete as per the rules governing the game, which call for each country to enter at least male and female athletes, in case they do not qualify directly. They will both be competing in the 50m freestyle.
“We applied to have badminton, weightlifting and tennis players invited by the organisers, after they failed to qualify,†said Nyangweso yesterday.
“It will also depend on how the other players in their sport have been performing.â€
Ekiring and Zambian Elly Mwambe are at the Olympic Solidarity high performance centre in Germany as the centre bargains for wildcards for them. Others who failed to qualify left.
The swimmers bring to eight the team bound for Beijing after boxer Ronald Serugo and athletes Moses Kipsiro, Abraham Chepkirwok, Alex Malinga, Benjamin Kiplagat and Boniface Kiprop.