“We are good, but many of those players eat, sleep, and live badminton, playing back-to-back international tournaments as their job,” Gladys Mbabazi said as Ugandan players weighed the gap between local competitors and international professionals at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
Ugandan badminton players secured a silver medal and three bronze finishes at the sixth edition of the Uganda International Badminton Series in Kampala. The mixed doubles pair of Gladys Mbabazi and Muzafar Lubega claimed silver on home soil after dropping the title match 2-0 (21-17, 21-10) to Malaysia’s Kakimi Hashim and Lim Xuan. The result mirrors their runner-up finish at the Kampala International Series held at the same venue the previous month.
Silver and Bronze Medals Won at Lugogo Indoor Arena
Beyond the mixed doubles final, Uganda secured two bronze medals in the women’s doubles division. The partnerships of Gladys Mbabazi and Mable Namakoye, alongside Fadilah Shamika and Tracy Naluwooza, both finished in third place. In the women’s singles draw, tournament second seed Mbabazi added a third bronze medal to her tally after falling 2-0 (21-9, 21-13) to India’s Aesha Gandhi, who claimed the championship.
Lubega and Mbabazi advanced to the mixed doubles final after four days of competition as top seeds, guaranteeing the host nation its first silver or gold of the tournament. The event drew 113 players representing 17 countries to Lugogo, offering a cash prize of US$1,200 and 2,500 Badminton World Federation ranking points for the winners.
Professional Demands Versus Local Realities in Ugandan Badminton
Reflecting on the finals, the home-based athletes pointed to a stark disparity in preparation time and resources compared to visiting international competitors. Mbabazi explained that while domestic players juggle full-time employment or university studies, foreign opponents treat the sport as a full-time profession with continuous international travel.
Tracy Naluwooza echoed those remarks, highlighting the differences in training regimens and equipment while noting that visiting players often manage their university education online during tour stops. Despite the resource gap, Naluwooza praised the tournament for providing vital Badminton World Federation ranking points, high-level exposure, and competitive experience for domestic competitors.
Infrastructure Plans and Future Tournaments Scheduled for Kampala
National Council of Sports General Secretary Patrick Ogwel addressed the closing ceremony on Sunday, committing to increased financial backing for badminton in the upcoming year. Ogwel also announced plans to expand international hosting to Akii-Bua Stadium next year as part of a broader push to decentralize sporting events.
“Badminton is one of the sports consistently giving results and a good image to Uganda by bringing in foreign players,” Ogwel said during the prize-giving ceremony. He also confirmed that the Lugogo Indoor Arena is scheduled for demolition following the Africa Cup of Nations to make way for the construction of the new Kampala Sports Arena.
Mbabazi Prepares for City Tyres International Challenge
Mbabazi has already turned her focus toward the upcoming City Tyres International Challenge, which is scheduled to begin at the end of the month at the same Lugogo venue. The tournament will offer another opportunity for home-based athletes to accumulate ranking points against an international field.
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