Uganda’s brightest young table tennis talents are gearing up for a global stage as the national Under-11 Hopes team prepares to depart for the World Hopes Week and Challenge Championship in Asuncion, Paraguay.
The team, led by Head Coach and Delegation leader Mary Balyewunya, will take flight on Saturday morning aboard Egypt Air.
Joining them later from Bahrain will be male coach Alvin Katumba. The young athletes competing are Anyango Patience and Sir Joseph Sebatindira.
Both Patience and Joseph secured their spots at the World Championship through impressive performances at the African qualifiers in Botswana back in July.
Patience emerged victorious in all her matches, claiming the title of Under-11 Girls African Champion, while Joseph secured the runner-up position in the Boys category.
“With Sir Joseph as a World U11 Champion and Patience as the reigning Africa U11 Champion, we have a lot of faith in this team,” said Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) President Jjagwe Robert. “With God’s Will and Grace, they will be able to continue to fly the Ugandan Flag high in Paraguay and achieve some good results.”
The team’s journey won’t be a direct one. They’ll spend three days honing their skills at a high-level training camp in Cairo, Egypt, before departing for Paraguay on October 30th.
Upon arrival, another five days of intensive training await them before the championship begins. Their return flight to Uganda is scheduled for November 9th.
This international event brings together the top two Under-11 boys and girls from each continent, providing them with a platform to compete against the best and learn from world-class coaches.
It’s an invaluable opportunity for both the players and their coaches, who will also gain valuable insights and enhance their coaching techniques.
The road to Paraguay wasn’t without its challenges. The UTTA President highlighted the significant cost of airfare, with return tickets from Paraguay exceeding $3,500 USD per person.
However, through Jjagwe Robert’s relentless lobbying efforts, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) stepped in to provide crucial support.
“We are extremely grateful to the ITTF and specifically former ATTF President Khaled El Salhy for securing assistance for this team,” expressed Jjagwe Robert. “Their support will cover all facilitation needs from Egypt onwards, ensuring the team can focus solely on the competition.”
