London calling for Kukundakwe
SWIMMING. Kukundakwe recorded three personal bests in the 100m breaststroke to qualify for the World Para Swimming Championships in London
KAMPALA. “The girl has played her part, now we must find the funds to take her to the World Para Swimming Championships in London.”
That is how Ugandan para-swimmer Husnah Kukundakwe’s mother and manager Hashima Batamuriza summed up the former’s performance at the May 10-12 World Series in Singapore.
Kukundakwe recorded three personal bests in the 100m breaststroke – where she clocked 1:57.84 and amassed 239 points, 100m freestyle – clocking 1:30.43 with 229 points and the50m freestyle (40.24 with 296 points).
She also did 100m backstroke touching home at 1:52.80 to get 53 points and subsequently qualified for London due September 9-15.
“I did my best despite not having a coach and swimming against older competitors,” the 12-year old Dolphins swimmer, who also went to Singapore courtesy of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to confirm her classification for various events, said.
“I missed the coach because I needed better strategies for some events. In the end I kept referring to what I had done in the past.”
Coach Muzafaru Muwanguzi, did not travel due to financial constraints and the five-hour time difference between Uganda and Singapore meant he could not easily be reached during Kukundakwe’s races.
“In London, we must go with the coach,” Batamuriza vowed as she thanked Centenary Bank, Stanbic Bank, National Drug Authority, Speke Resort – Munyonyo and National Council of Sports (NCS) for their support towards the Singapore trip.
WORLD SERIES - RESULTS
SB8 class
100m breast: 1:57.84 – 239 points
S9 Class
100 backstroke: 1:52.80 – 53 points
100m freestyle: 1:30.43 – 229 points
50m freestyle: 40.24 – 296 points
