Humbling experience for Ugandan team at the World Junior Badminton Championship

KAMPALA. Uganda badminton coach Ivan Kalimunda predicted a tough experience for his charges at the World Junior Badminton Championships.

“We expect a tough competition because we are meeting badminton greats, the team will gain experience but we do not expect medals,’’ Kalimunda said before the team’s departure.

And it has indeed been a humbling experience for the team after finding wins hard to come by at the championship being hosted in Kazan Russia.

They consequently finished 41st out of 43 nations avoiding the wooden spoon after defeating Mongolia 4-1 in the mixed team event.

This followed straight set wins for Brian Kasirye and Tracy Naluwooza in the singles before they teamed up for a 21-5 and 21-10 win over Yesun- Erdene and Munkhnar Lkhagvasuren.

Naluwooza then teamed up with Husna Kobugabe before Arshath Mohamed and Samuel Wasswa lost their doubles match to the Mongolians.

The individual tournaments have not been any kinder to the Ugandan contingent too with Mohamed, Wasswa, Kasirye, Naluwooza, kobugabe and Fadila Shamika all not going past the second round after getting byes.