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Jemimah Nakawala, Parvin Nangonzi, and Samuel Ankunda finished among the top eight players in the championship and qualified for the Africa Senior Championships, which will be held in Tunisia in September.
Uganda's women's table tennis team has put on an impressive performance at the Eastern Africa Championships in Djibouti, earning a well-deserved silver medal.
The team was made up of three players: Jemimah Nakawala and Judith Parvin Nangonzi, who play for Kibuli SSS and Nakasero Table Tennis Club, and Shanitah Nangonzi from Mbogo High School.
The women's team had a tough start in the championship, but they managed to make a strong comeback and to reach the finals. However, they faced a formidable opponent in Mauritius and lost 3-1 in the final match.
Nonetheless, the team's overall performance was impressive and earned Uganda valuable points for the Olympic Games qualifiers, the All-Africa Games 2024, and the Commonwealth Games 2026.
The men's team, comprising Benjamin Achuma, Samuel Ankunda, and Imran Luwooza, also put on a strong showing, finishing in third place after defeating Djibouti 3-0 in the playoffs.
Robert Jjagwe, the president of Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA), expressed his gratitude to the players for their remarkable performance despite the challenges they faced.
The team had to travel without a coach and obtain last-minute approval due to a lack of funds. Nevertheless, they worked as a close and united team, securing two medals for the country and making Uganda proud.
“We return home with two medals. Our Sincere thanks to the players,” Jjagwe explained, adding; “We were greatly disadvantaged and had to travel without a coach.”
“We also received a last-minute approval due to lack of funds, but they have secured some good medals for the country working as a close and united team,” Jjagwe stated.
Uganda's impressive performance in the championship bodes well for the future of table tennis in the country and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and the UTTA.
In addition to the team medals, several Ugandan players also excelled in the individual events. Nakawala, Nangonzi, and Ankunda finished among the top eight players in the championship and qualified for the Africa Senior Championships, which will be held in Tunisia in September.
The championship brought together eight countries from the region, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and Djibouti.
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