Nangonzi closing on Paris dream, into All-African Games round of 16

With two victories out of three games played on Day One in Accra, Ghana, Nangonzi's commanding win propels her to the round of 16 in the Paris Olympics pre-qualifiers.

TABLE TENNIS | Judith Parvin Nangonzi secured a spot at the pre-qualifiers for the 13th All African Games, showcasing impressive performance at the table tennis arena.

With two victories out of three games played on Day One in Accra, Ghana, Nangonzi's commanding win propels her to the round of 16 in the Paris Olympics pre-qualifiers.

In a gripping display of skill and strategy, Nangonzi secured an early lead against Angola's Moises Nelma in the opening game, ultimately clinching victory.

She continued her winning streak by defeating Tunisia's top-seeded player, Zoglami Mariam, in a closely contested match.

However, she faced defeat against Egypt's Helmy Yousra in the women's singles event.

Other notable performances include Uganda's seed one player, Nakawala Jemimah, who progressed to the second round after defeating Zambia's Mihiduo Ruth but faced a setback against Tunisia's Garci Fadwa.

Similarly, Uganda's current seed one player, Jonathan Senyonga, advanced to the next round after defeating Sierra Leone's Emmanuel Koroma but fell short against Algeria's Kherouf Sami.

Despite some wins, the less experienced players, such as Joseph Sebatidira and Sharif Nsereko, faced challenges due to nerves and high expectations in their debut championship.

The Uganda table tennis president, Robert Jaggwe, acknowledged the difficulties faced by inexperienced players, emphasizing the learning curve and the need for more exposure.

Jaggwe stated, “Day one in Ghana has come to an end. We had some wins and losses with the more inexperienced players in Uganda, especially the young ones like Joseph Sebatidira and Sharif Nsereko. It's the reason they have lost. You know when it's your very first time, you have tension and a lot of expectations, a lot of fear. This played against some of our players."

As the action continues on Wednesday 6th March with the Team Events, all three ladies will participate.

For the men's team, the coach will likely select Jonathan Senyonga and Samuel Ankunda, with the third spot between Joseph Sebatindira and Sharif Nsereko yet to be decided.