Uganda’s promising youngsters continue to punch above their weight at the ITTF Africa Youth Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, with several athletes making it through early rounds in both the Under-19 and Under-15 categories.
In the Under-19 girls’ singles, Judith Parvin Nangonzi sealed her place in the round of 16 after a rollercoaster group stage performance.
Nangonzi opened with a confident 3-1 win over South Africa’s Heralal Bhavna, stumbled against Nigeria’s Ayoola Kabirat by the same margin, but bounced back to thrash Benin’s Mayaki Emmanuala 3-0 in her final group match. She now faces Nigerian Ojo Favour on Saturday for a shot at the quarterfinals.
The Under-15 mixed doubles saw Uganda’s pairs impress with straight-set victories. Jemimah Nakawala and Joseph Sebatindira swept aside Nigeria’s Joseph Marvelous and Aruna Mariam 3-0.
Shariff Nsereko and Patience Anyango followed suit, crushing Benin’s Kossouho Fenou and Amadji Christelle with another 3-0 performance. However, Ibrahim Mutesasira and Patra Nasirumbi couldn’t keep the clean sheet going, falling 1-3 to Tunisia’s Mechergui Bara and Brahimi Nour.
Action continues on Friday with several Ugandan hopes still in the draw. Mutesasira teams up with South Africa’s Bester Rupert in the boys’ doubles against Angola’s Chicalu Moises and Ghayouri Kamrouz. Meanwhile, Sebatindira and Nsereko, who received a bye in the round of 32, face Nigeria’s Joseph Victor and Mustafa Musa in the next round.
In more Under-15 mixed doubles, Sebatindira and Nakawala will battle Benin’s Abdourahaman Ganiou and Amadji Christelle for a quarterfinal spot, while Anyango and Nsereko face Tunisia’s Amori Amine and Brahimi Mariam in another round of 16 tie.
Girls’ doubles action also picks up on Friday. Anyango and Nasirumbi face Nigerians Aruna Mariam and Idris Asiata.
Meanwhile, Nakawala and Nangonzi have already booked a place in the Under-19 girls’ doubles quarterfinals after earning a bye. Nangonzi will also team up with Zimbabwe’s Trust Madoro in a mixed doubles round of 32 clash against Nigeria’s Agunbiade Sultan and Okafor Chinenye.
