Overview:
Ritah Nimusiima won a trophy and cash prize worth Ug.Shs 500,000.
1st Women Day Pool Championship:
- Finals: Ritah Nimusiima 4-1 Aminah Nganda
- Third-Place: Rukia Nayiga 5-1 Jacinta Kajubi
Ritah Nimusiima put up a spirited performance to win the inaugural Women’s Day Pool Championship at L’Amour Bar and Lounge in Kansanga, Kampala city.
The left handed player overcame national team captain Amina Faith Nganda 4-1 in the final.
The one-day event was held to celebrate the women who dedicate their life and careers to pool.
Nimusiima faced a tough road to the final where she eliminated Marion “Ankah Sheila” Kisakye in the preliminaries.
She also eliminated the reigning national champion Rukia Nayiga 5-3 in the semis, to win the first major tournament of the season.
Nimusiima, who had a solid performance during the championship that attracted a massive 56 participants, said she was the deserved winner.
“I have been training so hard and I am happy it paid off. I deserved to win and hope it’s a good start to the season,” said Nimusiima, who dedicated the triumph to her mother.
She won a trophy and cash prize worth Ug.Shs 500,000.
Nganda, was honourable in the loss saying there was a marked improvement I her game since leaving the position of head of women affairs in the Pool Association of Uganda.
“Congratulations to Ritah. It was her day. But I am happy with how I performed. I hope to perform even better this season, ” said Nganda.
Determined
Nimusiima first took Kisaakya to the cleaners in the preliminaries winning 4-1 to qualify for the first round where she had a bye.
She beat Jacinta Kajubi in the last 16 before meeting Rehema Nansasi in the quarterfinals to set up a semifinal showdown with national champion Nayiga.
She won the encounter 5-3 before the game was called off after the expiry of the mandatory 75 minutes to meet Nganda, who had a fair pathway to the finals.
Nganda had eliminated Kajubi, Kezia Wavamunno and Priscilla Nampala enroute to the finals.
Landmark:
New Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) Secretary for Women Affairs (Nnabakyala) Debborah Ibenu was impressed with the day’s activities.
“This was a landmark event for us. We had more than 50 women taking part,” Ibenu remarked.
The one-day event was sponsored by L’Amour Bar and Lounge and MJ Safaris with support from the Pool Association of Uganda.