The City Tyres–Linglong East Africa Badminton Challenge will be one of Uganda’s largest sporting events this year. Over 1,000 players have already confirmed their participation, and organizers expect that number to rise to 1,500. The tournament will take place from October 16–19 at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium in Kampala, bringing together players from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. The event will feature multiple categories, making the competition more exciting and diverse.
Linglong Tyres, celebrating its 50th anniversary, and City Tyres are the event’s proud sponsors. The tournament will include categories such as under-10, under-13, under-19, universities, professionals, corporates, coaches, media, and international entries. These varied categories will create an exciting and competitive atmosphere, showcasing East Africa’s best badminton players.
Linglong Tyres is dedicated to promoting health and building community connections through sports. The company hopes to elevate badminton’s profile in Uganda and throughout East Africa. Wang Feng, President & CEO of Linglong, believes the tournament will inspire people to embrace badminton, improving their health and creating more enthusiasm for the sport.
“We hope this challenge will improve the quality of play and raise awareness about badminton,” Feng stated during the event’s launch. “Our goal is to make badminton a key sport in Uganda and contribute to the health of the local community.”
The Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) has made extensive preparations to accommodate the large number of participants. UBA CEO Simon Mugabi is confident that the association’s experience will ensure the smooth running of the event. “This tournament will be large, but we are fully prepared to handle it effectively,” Mugabi said. Additionally, he revealed that the introduction of a special prize would further excite players and motivate them to perform their best.
Several defending champions, including Fadilah Shamika (women’s singles), Arafat Tendo Kibirige & Vivian Nalule (U-19), Ahmed Malik & Trisha Kyuuka (U-15), Sam Bisaso & Sayed Samara (U-13), and Sofia Nsubuga & Umaima Nabasirye (U-10), will return to defend their titles. However, 2024 men’s singles champion Augustus Owiny will not attend this year, as he is abroad.
As the event draws closer, excitement continues to build. The City Tyres–Linglong East Africa Badminton Challenge will attract significant media coverage, increasing badminton’s visibility in Uganda. This tournament could help transform badminton from a niche sport into a mainstream attraction throughout East Africa.
This competition aims to do more than award medals. It seeks to reshape the sport’s role in Uganda, encouraging more youth to take part. Hosting the City Tyres–Linglong East Africa Badminton Challenge will help Uganda build a stronger sports culture and inspire future generations of badminton players.
Lugogo Indoor Stadium will come alive as East African players compete. The tournament will demonstrate how sports can unite people, spark passion, and foster lasting relationships. As the City Tyres–Linglong East Africa Badminton Challenge unfolds, it will become a defining moment in East African badminton, leaving a lasting legacy for the sport and its community.
