Kenya, Uganda for badminton tourney

Dar es Salaam. Three neighbouring countries have been invited to spice up the Nyerere Badminton Championship (Nyerere Cup) that will start on Saturday.

The two-day tournament will take place at the Khalsa Sports Club in Dar es Salaam.

Tony De Souza, the secretary of Tanzania Badminton Association (TBA), named the invited countries as Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.

He said Tanzanian players were in intensive training, readying for the eagerly awaited tournament.

“Preparations are in place. We are only waiting for the starting date. This will be the first international event to be organised here after a long time,” he said.

According to him, the event will be open to both men and women players. They will compete in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

“We look forward to the championship to help boost our efforts to revive badminton in the country,” De Souza said.

Tanzania used to be one of the highly rated badminton countries in Africa, but it fell from grace.

De Souza added that there will be ladies singles and doubles categories at the tournament. “I appeal to players to register for the tournament and they can do that through Khalsa Sports Club,” he said.

Among the national top players that are expected to show their skills at the tournament include Hassanal Mawoko, Dhyanesh Ramaiya, Abida Hassanali, Meet Somani, Harshee Chohan, Manprit Rai, Umang Somani and Sheeya Shah.

Others are Hussein Anjarwalla, Ayzaz Jessan, Depen Pattni, Khyati Chokshi Wang Chanzhoo,Victor Odero and Edrwin Waitatu.

De Souza said he was confident that the tournament will help significantly bring back the game where it belongs and build friendship among players.