End of year review: Squash

Ian Rukunya has always played second fiddle to Michael Kawooya in several squash local competitions, but that looks likely to change in the near future as some of this year's results indicate.

This year's tournaments, like many in the past, have been about Kawooya and Rukunya, but it is the latter that seems to hold an edge going by the tournaments held between September and November this season.

The season kicked off with the Kabaka's 61st Birthday Open in April where seed 1 Kawooya beat seed 2

Rukunya 3-2 in the finals.

Kawooya, who is more exposed than the youngster had beaten Paul Kadoma 3-2 (11-3, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 11-5) in a hotly contested semifinal at the Kampala Club Courts.

Rukunya was also in good form seeing off Micah Gaalya 3-0 (11-2, 11-3, 11-4) in a one sided affair.

Despite vowing to end Kawooya's dominance in the final, it wasn't to be for Rukunya who lost to his rival.

Top stars in final

In May during the Prime General Supply tournament, the two players again reached the finals with Kawooya registering another 3-2 victory.

Rukunya won the first set (11-4) and fourth (11-7) sets but lost in the other sets (11-5, 12-10, 11-9) to the three-time USPA Squash player of the year who is still hungry for more success.

In the 50 years and above category, William Byaruhanga beat Derrick Banyu 3-0 (11/5, 11/5, 11/6) while in the Plate event final, Aggrey Nkuyahaga registered a 3-0 win over Joseph Kiwuuwa.

In August, a memorial tournament in honour of former Uganda Squash Rackets Association chairman and ardent player Stephen Musisi, who passed on in 2014, was organised.

Alex Bangirana collected 120 points to emerge winner of the inaugural tournament at Kampala Club.

Bangirana beat four opponents en-route to winning the one-day, 15-minute time games format of play tournament that attracted six players.

The former seed two beat Stephen Magero, Abdeel Kyezira, Mulungi Seruwu and Edith Wamalwa, to win what is set to become an annual tournament, according to Kampala Club Squash captain Stephen Magembe.

In October, it was time for Rukunya to show his prowess on court when he had a successful outing in Kenya winning the Nakuru Open.

He won the event on the fourth time of asking, bettering his second place finish in 2014.

Rukunya beat Kenya's Billy Josa 3-0 in the final to win the equivalent of   sh1.5m.

He then registered a morale boosting win when he captured the Kabira Open title early in November.

He beat Paul Kadoma 3-2 in the final.

"That victory helped me build confidence ahead of the Parkland Open," said Rukunya.

"Two wins in a row, the feeling was awesome."

He added, "For the first time, I put in two solid months of training in the gym, road work and drills with my father Simon Kajubu who doubles up as my coach."|

He travelled with Michael Kawooya, Ian Rukunya, Paul Kadoma and Lawrence Matovu to Nairobi to compete in the Parklands Open.
 
First Ugandan finalist

Kadoma and Matovu bowed out early, Kawooya made it to the semis where Rukunya became the first Ugandan finalist in the annual tournament.

The players pocketed a combined sh1.9m.

This season, an idea of playing a league was mooted to ensure a competitive squash calendar, but the event didn't take off.

"This has been a good year and if I win the USPA squash player of the year, it will be a great and awesome year," Rukunya said.