From Team Glory to Singles Brilliance: Uganda Impresses at ITTF Youth Championships
The day opened with a flawless performance by Joseph Sebatindira, who topped Group 1 with commanding wins. He dispatched Cameroon’s Ndzelen Maxwell 3-0, outlasted Nigeria’s Joseph Victor in a tense 3-2 thriller, and defeated South Africa’s Scholtz Ruan 3-1. His six points sealed the group in style and sent a strong message of intent. Shariff Nsereko followed up with equal brilliance in Group 8. The budding star swept through his opponents with a 3-0 win over Togo’s Agbetoglo Tony, a similar margin against Cameroon’s Ndzelen Maxsmith, and a 3-1 triumph over Benin’s Abdourahaman Ganiou—securing another six points for Team Uganda.
Uganda’s young table tennis stars continued to dazzle at the ongoing 2025 ITTF African Youth Championships, delivering electrifying performances in the Under-15 singles category at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall in Lagos, Nigeria. With spirited displays and strong group-stage results, the Ugandan contingent reaffirmed their rising dominance in the continental tournament.
The day opened with a flawless performance by Joseph Sebatindira, who topped Group 1 with commanding wins. He dispatched Cameroon’s Ndzelen Maxwell 3-0, outlasted Nigeria’s Joseph Victor in a tense 3-2 thriller, and defeated South Africa’s Scholtz Ruan 3-1. His six points sealed the group in style and sent a strong message of intent.
Shariff Nsereko followed up with equal brilliance in Group 8. The budding star swept through his opponents with a 3-0 win over Togo’s Agbetoglo Tony, a similar margin against Cameroon’s Ndzelen Maxsmith, and a 3-1 triumph over Benin’s Abdourahaman Ganiou—securing another six points for Team Uganda.
The only dent in an otherwise excellent day for Uganda's boys came in Group 5, where Ibrahim Mutesasira fell short of progressing. He lost 3-1 to Nigeria’s Hussein Adeoye and 3-0 to Tunisia’s Essid Amir. However, Mutesasira bounced back with a confident 3-1 win over Zimbabwe’s Makoni Shallom, showing grit and resilience despite early setbacks.
U-15 Girls Continue Golden Momentum
Following their historic team gold—the first ever for Uganda in continental table tennis—Uganda’s Under-15 girls transitioned into the singles bracket with renewed fire.
Patience Anyango put in a commanding shift in Group 4, storming past South Africa’s Zide Iminam (3-0), Egypt’s Thabet Farida (3-1), and Namibia’s Namupolo Justina (3-0) to top the group with six points. Her precision and composure under pressure continue to be a cornerstone of Uganda’s campaign.
Patra Nasirumbi rebounded superbly after a slow start. After losing 3-0 to Algeria’s Morice Tania, she regrouped and bounced back with dominant 3-0 victories over Madagascar’s Ranarison Fiderana and Nigeria’s Aruna Mariam. Her five points were enough to push her into the next round.
Meanwhile, Jemimah Nakawala was in a class of her own, cruising through Group 6 with clinical victories. She dispatched Togo’s Nousoukoppe Marcelle 3-1, Namibia’s Farmer Cadence 3-0, and Madagascar’s Rakotondrazaka 3-0 to finish top and unbeaten.
While most of Uganda's U-15 stars will wait for their next singles match, Patra Nasirumbi is set to return to action on Saturday in the round of 32. She faces a tough opponent in Tunisia’s Brahimi Nour, and victory would boost Uganda’s chances of medaling in singles.
With a brief pause in singles competition, attention now shifts to Thursday’s mixed doubles category. Uganda has assembled formidable pairings:
Joseph Sebatindira and Jemimah Nakawala will square off against the winner between Ghana’s Aklie Prince/Droh Jessica and Nigeria’s Joseph Marvelous/Aruna Mariam at 7:00 PM Nigeria time.
Shariff Nsereko and Patience Anyango face the Beninese duo Kossouho Fenou and Amadji Christelle.
Ibrahim Mutesasira and Patra Nasirumbi go up against the Tunisian pair Mechergui Bara and Brahimi Nour.
These pairings reflect a strategic move by Uganda’s coaching staff to maximize synergy and tactical strengths across the board.
Beyond the U-15 category, Uganda’s flag will also be flying high in the Under-19 singles where Parvin Judith Nangonzi, the country’s lone representative, will test her mettle in Group 4. Her group opponents include South Africa’s Heralal Bhavna, Nigeria’s Ayoola Kabirat, and Benin’s Mayaki Emmanuela.
Parvin, known for her skillful rallies and mental toughness, is expected to bring her A-game to the court in what will be a critical phase of her youth career.
The continued success of Team Uganda has been strongly attributed to the tactical guidance and mentorship of head coaches Alvin Katumba and Tendo Balyewunya. Their hands-on training, team spirit cultivation, and sharp in-game strategies have proven instrumental in keeping the Ugandan side competitive and confident throughout the tournament.
As the championships progress, Uganda has shown that it is no longer a peripheral force in African table tennis. With both individual brilliance and solid teamwork, the nation’s young stars are not just participating—they are rewriting the script.
All eyes now turn to the weekend’s knockout action and Thursday’s mixed doubles as Uganda’s table tennis dreams gather momentum in Lagos.
