The 10th edition of the Uganda Badminton International serves off this Thursday in Lugogo with qualification matches in the men’s singles to see who joins the last 32.
The tournament has attracted players from as far as Australia, Malaysia, India, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, and Israel.
Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Mauritius and are the African countries that have joined Uganda. The qualification round is dominated by locals but also some foreign names.
One of the notable names in there is former top seed Wilson Tukire who will battleTumisang Olekantse from Botswana. Tukire (26)and 14 other Ugandans are all drawn up against foreign opposition in the qualification phase with only eight needed for the main draw that already has eight locals.
“It’s not about Tukire, Uganda has a number of good and talented players who carry that flag high,” said the Kampala University student. Tukire who last year didn’t go past the round of 32 is ranked 15th locally, 88th on the continent and 948 in the world.
Sri-Likanan Dinuka Karunaratne is the men’s defending champion and the top seed; he opens the campaign against Orideetse Thela from Botswana.
Selected Ugandans in the men’s singles qualifiers
Riyaz Salewala vs Jonathan Monda (Kenya)
Ronald Lule vs Victor Odera (Kenya)
Abdul Jamal Nazar vs Jien Sern Ian Wong (Malaysia)
Areej Shalwani vs Perekisi Tshepo (Botswana)
Andrew Oryada vs Tang Jie Chen (Malaysia)
Ivan Mayega vs Aaftan Kara (Kenya)
Hemang Hemang Vs Haji Hassanali Mawoko (Tanzania)
Allan Nkire vs Chun Quan Chong (Malaysia)
Alex Babu vs Tabriel Kara (Kenya)
Wilson Tukiire vs Tumisang Olekantse Botswana
