More than 30 new badminton players from four districts in Eastern Uganda have made their debut at the 9th edition of the City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge, currently taking place at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
The players, drawn from Butaleja, Ngora, Pallisa and Mbale districts, are benefiting from the Shuttle Time programme, which has been rolled out in different parts of the country to introduce young people to badminton and develop their skills.
Also Participants from seven districts include Soroti District, Serere District, and Busia also took part in the East Africa Badminton Challenge through the Shuttle Time programme, demonstrating the growing reach of badminton and the programme’s commitment to promoting the sport at the grassroots level.
Badminton Uganda Chief Executive Officer Simon Mugabi says the programme is creating opportunities for players from different parts of the country to participate in major badminton competitions.
Through Shuttle Time, Mugabi says, more players will be identified, equipped with the necessary skills and given opportunities to compete at higher levels.
Meanwhile, games teachers Hellen Cheruto of Mulagi Girls School and Vincent Achadu of Olok Seed Secondary School say participating in the City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge has been an eye-opener, providing them with valuable experience and exposure to competitive badminton.
The teachers have called on Badminton Uganda to strengthen its technical support and training opportunities to enable them to coach their players more effectively.
For many of the players from Eastern Uganda, the competition has provided an important learning experience, with several acknowledging that they have gained valuable lessons from their first appearance at the event.
Their participation highlights the growing reach of badminton in the country and the role of grassroots development programmes in expanding the sport beyond its traditional centres.
The 9th edition of the City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, October 19, at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
