Nineteen countries have converged in Kampala to participate in the Uganda International para-badminton Championship that serves off today at the indoor arena in Lugogo and is slated to run till the 18th of September.
The tournament will see over 185 para-athletes compete in five categories which are the Men and Women singles, and Men and Women double alongside the mixed doubles.
They aim to garner points and brighten their chances of taking part in World Para-Badminton Championships.
The Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) launched two para-badminton tournaments yesterday set to happen in a sequence, starting with the International tournament this week, followed by the Africa Championship to start on Monday next week at the same venue.
Hosts Uganda began preparation two months ago and will field up to 54 athletes for the two events.
The tournament has attracted some of the most dominant nations in the sport including India, Spain, Egypt, and Japan. The other participants are; Singapore, Scotland, Azerbaijan, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Italy, and the Central African Republic.
Organizers anticipated a bigger number of participants at the event but some of the nations pulled out, owing to financial difficulties and facilitation concerns.
Niger, Italy, Brazil, Cameroon and Madagascar are some of the nations that withdrew from this year’s Uganda International Para-Badminton.
Athletes will be classified in Wheelchair One, Wheelchair Two, Standing Lower Three (SL3), Standing Lower Four (SL4), Standing Upper Five (SU5) and Short Stecher.
On the big announcement, Jibu Corporate Uganda Limited, the producers of Jibu water, Jibu Porridge, and Cooking gas pledged to support the event by hydrating all participants throughout the tournament.
The company’s Marketing and Communication Manager, Brendah Kembabazi Ssenyonga confirmed the announcement yesterday at the launch.
“We are glad to be part of the Para-Badminton both International and Africa tournaments. And as Jibu, we are going to come on as hydration partners, we will be providing all the water needs throughout the tournaments.” Brendah re-echoed.
“In addition to that, we know, you can’t drink water without a can or a bottle, we shall provide aluminum drinking bottles and at the end of the tournament, we shall also reward the outstanding player from team Uganda with a full set of cooking gas, 6Kg.” She concluded.
Jibu now joins Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital and Bank of Baroda on the list of partners supporting Uganda Badminton tournaments.
