Uganda’s duo of Husina Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi secured gold in the Women’s Badminton Doubles event at the ongoing 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana.
The beat their Algerian opponents, Halla Bouksani and Tanina Violette Mammeri, in two straight sets. The tension-filled match saw Uganda secure the first set with a narrow margin of 23-21 before sealing the victory with a convincing 21-14 win in the second set.
The road to victory was paved with hard-fought battles as Kobugabe and Mbabazi showcased their prowess on the court.
Earlier in the day, they triumphed over the formidable Egyptian duo of Nour Ahmed Youssri and Doha Hany in the semi-finals, setting the stage for their historic gold medal achievement.
“This is an overwhelming moment for us,” expressed Uganda coach William Kabindi. “Securing our country’s first-ever gold in Badminton is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our athletes. We identified coordination as a key area for improvement, and the team’s collective effort has yielded remarkable results.”
The joyous champions, Kobugabe and Mbabazi, expressed their gratitude to everyone who supported them on their journey to success. “We are incredibly proud of this achievement,” remarked Kobugabe. “It’s an honor to represent Uganda on the international stage, and we are grateful for the unwavering support from our coaches, teammates, and fans.”
Mbabazi added, “Our victory is a testament to the power of teamwork and perseverance. By training together relentlessly, we have forged a strong bond and honed our skills to overcome any challenge.”
In addition to their gold medal triumph, Uganda’s Badminton team garnered further accolades with Kobugabe securing a silver medal after a closely contested final against South Africa’s Johanita Scholtz in Women’s Singles. Fadilah Shamika contributed to Uganda’s medal haul by clinching a bronze in the Women’s Singles category as well, further cementing Uganda’s growing presence in African Badminton.
