Uganda defeated India and Kenya in the Nations cup in a round robin format to be crowned the champions of the 2023 City Tyres Badminton Challenge.
Team captain Amos Muyanja put up a great fight winning both his singles games and the doubles with victory against India.
Muyanja’s first match was an end-to-end affair against India’s Kusal Guna. Each player stretched the other to the limit, with admirable speed and accuracy on Court 3.
Muyanja took the first set 21-13 but he admitted that over confidence—because he had beaten Guna in the Men’s Singles 2-0 on Saturday—cost him the second set 20-22. Now his work was cut out. He had to win the third set. And he did 21-14, giving Uganda a head start. Soon, Tracy Naluwooza walloped India’s Hirani Harshimi 2-0 (21-5, 21-8).
Muyanja then partnered with Muzafaru Lubega to defeat Nowfal Nazeem and his brother 2-0 in the nations’ cup men’s doubles.
Guna was meant to face Kenya’s Fred Nyaribo, but when he delayed, Muyanja stepped in and sorted the Kenyan 2-0, before his colleague Hamza Hanifa beat Kenya’s Maria Admani 2-0.
With five wins in five games in a three-team round robin, Uganda was the champ in waiting, as India finished second, Kenya third.
“It’s a great feeling aiding my country to this victory. I congratulate my teammates and coaches for this achievement, Last time Kenya ran away with it but now victory belongs to Uganda ” said the team captain Muyanja.
In the other excelling players in the tournament was a senior two student at Mbogo High School Ramiah Bukenya who fought her way to the finals of the 2023 City Tyres East African Badminton Challenge, achieving exactly what she promised on the opening day of the event despite losing in the finals.
Bukenya, a slim body with admirable speed and heart, lost her Under 15 Singles final to Olivia Kyomukama 2-1. She was also instrumental alongside Tracy Naluwooza in Mbogo High School’s victory in the girls’ team category.
