Nakaayi’s run extends with USPA award
Halimah Nakaayi joins Dorcus Inzikuru as Uganda’s second female gold medallist at the World Championships. Courtesy Photo
KAMPALA. Halimah Nakaayi’s ages of hard work are finally paying off. Fresh from Doha, Qatar where she won gold in 800m at the IAAF World Athletics Championships, the middle distance runner was also appreciated by Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) who voted her best sports personality for the month of September 2019.
Nakaayi easily fended off competition from the U17 national girls football side which won the 2019 COSAFA U17 Girls’ Championship in Mauritius, Swimmer Kirabo Namutebi who won two gold medals and one silver at the Africa Junior Swimming Championships in Tunisia, boxer Abdul Ssebute who won the East and Central Africa Boxing super flyweight title as well as golfers Martha Babirye who won the 2019 Castle Lite Uganda Ladies Golf Open and UGC Ladies Open and Peace Kabasweka who reigned supreme at the 2019 Tanzania Ladies Golf Championship.
Nakaayi’s feat also ensured she became the first Ugandan to win a medal in the distance after clocking one minute and 58.84 seconds in the two-lap event, bagging $60,000 (about sh220m) in the process.
“I am so happy, we have done it,” a delighted Nakaayi told Daily Monitor moments after the race. The 24-year-old joins Dorcus Inzikuru as Uganda’s second female gold medallist at the World Championships.
