The Kampala International badminton tournament has reached the business end at the Lugogo indoor stadium, with Uganda still strongly represented across the singles and doubles draws.
The tournament, running from September 24 to 27, has already delivered a mixture of impressive home performances, hard lessons and some intriguing international contests.
As the quarter-finals take centre stage on Saturday, Uganda has several players and pairs still chasing places in Sunday’s finals.
Nsubuga faces the biggest test yet
Reagan Michael Nsubuga carries Uganda’s men’s singles hopes into the quarter-finals, but standing in his way is tournament top seed Hein Htut of Myanmar.
Nsubuga, seeded seventh, opened his campaign with a convincing 21-12, 21-10 victory over Algeria’s Daoud Aimen before defeating Namibia’s Sammy Mdogo Sikoyo 21-18, 21-10 in the last 16. His reward is a meeting with Htut, who has looked every bit the top seed. The winner will face either India’s Manav Choudhary or compatriot Abhishek Kanapala in the semi-finals.
Muzafaru Lubega, seeded fourth, was Uganda’s other major hope in the men’s singles, but his run ended in the last 16 against Malaysia’s Yu Sheng Lim. Lubega took the opening game 21-18 but could not maintain the momentum, losing the next two 21-10, 21-18. He still has plenty to play for, however, teaming up with Nsubuga in the men’s doubles and Gladys Mbabazi in the mixed doubles.
Fadilah Leads Uganda’s Women
Uganda has four players through to the women’s singles quarter-finals, led by top seed Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi. Mohamed Rafi survived a close second game against India’s Suzen Burhagohain on Friday, winning 21-8, 27-25. She now faces another Indian, Ishita Negi, in the quarter-finals.
Negi has looked particularly sharp in Kampala. She began with a commanding 21-2, 21-0 victory over Uganda’s Precious Nagawa before defeating Namibia’s Naomi Wandili 21-4, 21-6; that makes today’s quarter-final a significant test for Uganda’s top-ranked woman in the tournament.
Kruthum Nalumansi, the fourth seed, is also through after comfortable wins over Gillian Nakhungu and Blessing Buyanzi. Nalumansi Beat Gillian 21-10, 21-6 before accounting for Buyanzi 21-13, 21-11. She meets American Ruhi Raju in the last eight.
Raju has already shown that she will not be an easy opponent. She defeated Uganda’s Robinah Bako 21-4, 21-3 before eliminating Olivia Nakajja 21-5, 21-7.
Tracy Naluwooza, seeded third, has also enjoyed a strong tournament so far. She opened with a 21-6, 21-7 victory over Britney Cherop and then overwhelmed Alayna Karim Alwani 21-2, 21-3. Naluwooza now faces India’s Akshita Manral.
The fourth Ugandan in the women’s singles quarter-finals is second seed Gladys Mbabazi. Mbabazi has been equally impressive, defeating Vanessa Nassali 21-5, 21-2 before beating Meble Namakoye 21-13, 21-4. Her next opponent is India’s Aesha Gandhi, who has also been among the tournament’s standout performers. Gandhi recorded one of the most emphatic wins of the tournament when she beat Uganda’s Deborah Akamumpa 21-0, 21-2.
In the women’s doubles, top seeds Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi and Tracy Naluwooza face Norway’s Blessing Buyanzi and Britney Cherop. The Ugandan pair will be expected to handle the Norwegian combination, but the match still presents its own test as the tournament moves into the knockout stages.
There is also an all-Ugandan women’s doubles quarter-final between Gladys Mbabazi/Meble Namakoye and Robinah Bako/Vanessa Nassali. That guarantees Uganda a place in one of the semi-finals regardless of the outcome.
In the men’s doubles, second seeds Muzafaru Lubega and Reagan Michael Nsubuga Meet Namibia’s Edwin Akwanyi and Edwin Waitathu Njeri.
Lubega and Nsubuga reached the quarterfinals after defeating Algeria’s Daoud Aimen and Mestapaha Kessari 21-12, 21-19.
Joshua Ekochu and Tendo Kizito Mukalazi also produced one of Friday’s most dramatic results, recovering from a first-game loss to beat Freddieh Kellys Kirabo and Ivan Mayega 13-21, 21-17, 25-23; they face Karim Ayaan and Aaryan Jawed Hirani today.
Uganda also has four pairs involved in the mixed doubles quarter-finals. Top seeds Muzafaru Lubega and Gladys Mbabazi face Namibia’s Calvin Simiyu and Naomi Wandili, while Second Seeds Reagan Micheal Nsubuga and Tracy Naluwooza take on Namibia’s Edwin Akwanyi and Blessing Buyanzi. Tendo Kizito Mukalazi And Kimberley Joan Ssendiwala Meet Malaysia’s Hafiz Hakimi Hashim And Lim Xuan.
India’s Manav Choudhary, the men’s singles third seed, has moved into the quarterfinals without dropping a game. He defeated Uganda’s Shilton Tayebwa by walkover before beating Malaysia’s Hafiz Hakimi Hashim 21-13, 21-17.
India’s Tanmoy Bikash Boruah, the fifth seed, has also impressed. He defeated Ismail Mungufeni 21-8, 21-8 before edging Uma Maheshwar Reddy Gopireddy 21-17, 27-25.
Akhil Rao Suryaneni is another Indian player worth watching after victories over Myanmar’s Nyan Shaine Lin and South Africa’s Caden Kakora.
Sri Lanka’s Aashinsa Herath has also advanced after beating India’s Sai Rishwanth Lade 21-19, 21-13. In the women’s singles, Negi, Manral and Gandhi have all looked capable of going deep into the tournament, giving Uganda’s Leading Women a serious challenge on Saturday.
The quarter-finals begin at 11:30 am, with the semifinals scheduled for the afternoon from 3 pm. For Uganda, the focus will be on whether Nsubuga can overcome the tournament’s top seed, whether Mohamed Rafi can continue her run, and whether Nalumansi, Naluwooza and Mbabazi can keep Uganda’s women’s singles challenge alive.