Nsubuga, Omedo lift Beach Volleyball crown

By Swalley Kenyi

International Beach Volleyball Finals 

Women

E. Rotich/Y. Juma (KEN) 2 D. Agaba/J. Nammanda (UGA) 0                  

Men

H. Nsubuga/I. Omedo (UGA) 2 E. Kato/N. Dheyongera (UGA) 0           

Semi-finals

Women

E. Rotich/Y. Juma (KEN) 2 A. Gitta/S. Nuwagaba (UGA) 0      

D. Agaba/J. Nammanda (UGA) 2 P. Busingye/C. Alupo (UGA) 0          

Men

E. Kato/N. Dheyongera (UGA) 2 A. Okello/D. Otim (UGA) 1                  

H. Nsubuga/I. Omedo (UGA) 2 M. Ahabwe/E. Rugaba (UGA) 0  

HANNINGTON Nsubuga and partner Isaac Omedo capitalised on their opponents’ lack of focus to easily overcome surprise package of Emma Kato and Nicholas Dheyongera in the eighth edition of the International beach volleyball championship on Sunday.

Nsubuga, who made his fifth appearance in the finals capitalised on Dheyongera ambiguous role on the court to win in straight sets 21-19, 21-18.

We had to focus on Dheyongera to win the championship because his role on the court is not clear. He tries to do everything and that makes him vulnerable. You either spike the balls or defend no wonder he was tired, an unsurprised Nsubuga told journalists at Lido. It was Nsubuga's third Castle Lite International Beach Volleyball title. 

Kato and Dheyongera had ended defending champions Dickens Otim and Ambrose Okello's three-year winning streak at the international championships while Nsubuga/Omedo threw out Michael Ahabwe and Emmanual Rugaba in the semi-finals.

In the women's final, Nammanda and Diana Agaba found the Kenyan pair of Yelena Juma and experienced Edinah Rotich too solid to beat and succumbed to a straight sets defeat.

Rotich, who is regarded as a better court volleyball player, described their victory as a motivator for her to take beach volleyball more serious than regular volleyball that was her main stay.

I was just trying it out because I did not even think of winning this. Beach volleyball is not my thing but there were no Kenyans interested in coming here so I had to take it up. I now believe I can do better at higher level, an excited Rotich said after the final.