Overview:
Current U-11 and U-12 World Table Tennis Champion Joseph Francis Sebatindira is 11 years old. Judith Mirembe, fresh from writing her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) is 12 years. Jemimah Nakawala (15), Judith Parvin Nangonzi (17) Joshua Magaya (17) and Information Technology Graduate Jonathan Ssenyonga is 28 years.
The Uganda Table Tennis national team is arguably the youngest crop of players at the ongoing 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabian city of Riyadh.
Current U-11 and U-12 World Table Tennis Champion Joseph Francis Sebatindira is 11 years old. Judith Mirembe, fresh from writing her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) is 12 years.
Jemimah Nakawala (15), Judith Parvin Nangonzi (17) Joshua Magaya (17) and Information Technology Graduate Jonathan Ssenyonga is 28 years.
Ssenyonga is the team captain for obvious reasons given his unquestionable leadership qualities and command of the team on and off the arena.
The team is currently stationed at the Diriyah Apartment inside the Games village in Riyadh alongside the rest of the Ugandan delegation that has Boxing, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Para-Powerlifting, Athletics and Aquatics.
Since arriving in Riyadh on Wednesday morning, the young Table Tennis team players have been swiftly adapting to the hot weather conditions and food in Saudi Arabia prior to the kick off of the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games.
The first batch of five had Nakawala, Nangonzi, Sebatindira, Magaya and skipper Ssenyonga ushered into the lavish Games Village.
Consequently, they held their first training session on the Tables on Thursday at the Riyadh University Students Recreation and Sports Center.
“It was great feeling the Tables as we practiced. We are all in the best shape. We await for Judith (Mirembe) and coach (Alvin Katumba). For the host weather, we are getting used as well as the food. We are ready to play to our best and conquer the world” Ssenyonga spoke to Kawowo Sports Media on Thursday.
Head coach Alvin Katumba, traveling alongside seed three Judith Mirembe, who recently wrote her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Mbogo Junior School will join the team on Friday, also the games’ official opening ceremony in Riyadh city.
Besides Table Tennis, Uganda has a big representation in the discipline of Aquatics, Wrestling, Athletics, Boxing, Weightlifting and Para-Powerlifting.
Since inception of the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2005 (Mecca, Saudi Arabia), Uganda has been part and parcel of these games with a total accumulation of 11 medals in 5 editions.
A total of 57 countries are taking part in these games with 23 sports disciplines.
