Overview:
Badminton star Mohammed Fadilah Shamika has represented team Uganda at the different tournaments to include the Commonwealth Games (Birmingham, United Kingdom), ISF Championships in Normandy – France, Uganda International Tournament (Kampala), Africa Junior Championships (Mauritius) and East Africa Secondary Schools Championships in Kigali, Rwanda.
World-over, most sports personalities are driven by varying factors at play.
From parents and other family members, friends, exceling sports icons, environment to sheer passion for the games at hand, the sports personalities are driven by a wide variety of factors.
Uganda’s teenage Badminton female player Mohammed Fadilah Shamika was inspired to play this indoor game by the father, Mohammed Rafi.
I started to play Badminton when I was 10 years old. I was inspired by my father Mohammed Rafi who also played the game. Since then, he has always supported me to play the game and developed into the player I am today.
Mohammed Fadilah Shamika, Badminton player
Shamika was born on 6th April 2005 to Mohammed Rafi and Barveen Shaji at Tamilnadu in India as the first-born child.
At the age of one year, her parents shifted base to Uganda, where they have lived since.
Shamika has represented team Uganda at the different tournaments to include the Commonwealth Games (Birmingham, United Kingdom), ISF Gymnasiade in Normandy – France, Uganda International Tournament (Kampala), Africa Junior Championships (Mauritius) and East Africa Secondary Schools Championships in Kigali, Rwanda.
Her best game ever was during the 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham when she faced the world’s number ten, Kristine Gilmour.
Although she lost 2-0 to the world’s number ten player, Shamika felt she gave her best shot in the match.
“The match against Kristine Gilmour in the 2022 Commonwealth Games will remain in my memory. I faced the world number ten and even if I lost the game, I gave my best effort” Shamika whose best stroke is smash recollects.
After the Commonwealth Games, Shamika also represented the country at the East Africa secondary school games in Rwanda, then the Africa Junior championship in Mauritius.
Earlier in the year, she had played in the Uganda International tournament at the MTN Indoor Arena, Lugogo and was part of the team Uganda at the World Schools’ games (Gymnasiade) in Normandy city, France.
In France, Fadilah and Naluwooza finished seventh as they bowed out at the quarter final stage to Ukraine’s Frolova Varvara and Sofiia Lavrova 2-0 (21-09 and 21-10).
The Ugandan female pair then recovered from a set down to beat UAE’s Alexander Irene Elsa and Rajith Rinitha 2-1 (9-21, 21-18 and 21-12).
At the next hurdle, they fell to the Indian duo of Nandakumar Prerana and Sanjay Hashini 2-0 (21-10, 21-12).
Fadilah had her elementary education at Kampala Parents school where she was a bursary scheme.
She then moved to Kibuli Secondary School for S1 before moving to Rubaga Girls School (still on full bursary) where she is currently in senior four vacation having completed her ordinary level of examinations.
Mathematics is her best subject with the French teacher, a one Joseph her best teacher.
On any day, a well-prepared pizza is her best dish.
She has competed five times at the prestigious Uganda International Badminton tournament (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and lately 2022).
Profile:
- Full Names: Fadilah Shamika Mohammed
- Parents: Mohammed Rafi & Barveen Shaji
- Date of Birth: 6th April 2005
- Place of Birth: Tamilnadu, India
- Badminton Debut: 2013, aged 10 years
- Role Model: Father, Mohammed Rafi
- Best match: Against Kristine Gilmour (in 2022 Commonwealth Games)
- Best Stroke: Smash
- Favorite Dish: Pizza
- Education: Kampala Parents, Kibuli, Rubaga Girls (S2-S4)
- Best Subject: Mathematics
- Best Teacher: Tr. Joseph (French Teacher)
- Major Tournaments played: Commonwealth Games 2022 (England), ISF Gymnasiade Games 2022 (France), Africa Junior Championship 2022 (Mauritius), East African Games 2018 (Rwanda), Uganda International 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (Kampala)