KAMPALA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's 10-year-old star player Joseph Sebatindira will lead Uganda's team at the 2024 Africa Table Tennis Championships slated on October 12-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Sebatindira currently ranks top in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)'s under-11 players.
"I am very excited that once again I have the opportunity to represent Uganda at an international championships. We shall make sure we work hard as a team to win several medals for the country," Sebatindira told Xinhua before the team traveled to Ethiopia on Friday.
Besides Sebatindira, the team also boasts of Africa's U11 women's champion Patience Anyango, while Jonathan Senyonga will captain the team.
Robert Jjagwe, Chairman of the Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA), told Xinhua that it has not been easy finding funds to send the seven-strong team to Ethiopia.
"We have really struggled to send this team, but we are happy they are finally traveling and will represent Uganda in one of the best tournaments on the African calendar," said Jjagwe.
Jjagwe also explained that playing in the Africa Championships will help Sebatindira and Anyango gain exposure as they prepare to represent Africa in the World Hopes (U11) training camp and Championship taking place in Paraguay from November 1 to 8.
The other teams taking part in the Africa Championships include Nigeria, DR Congo, Cameroon, Algeria, Togo, South Africa, Benin, Madagascar, Tunisia, Sudan and hosts Ethiopia. ■
