Table tennis: Sebatindira’s star on the rise

For the first time in the history of table tennis, Uganda registered its first-ever world champion in Joseph Sebatindira, 9, a pupil at Nakasero primary school.

This came on the back of his 3-0 victory over Egypt’s Hussein Eyad in the final of the under-11 World Table Tennis Youth Contender tournament held in Cairo, Egypt between October 23 and 29. Sebatindira won all his seven games at the tournament, marking himself out as a true star in the making for a country, where table tennis is not regarded as a major sport.

“We think that exploits like the kind made by Sebatindira are game changers for table tennis in the country. This is full proof that we have talent in the country, and we hope perceptions can change so that more support is rendered to these youngsters,” Robert Jjagwe, the president of Uganda’s Table Tennis Association, said excitedly.

While Sebatindira’s exploits will definitely be a big surprise for most Ugandans, the boy’s talent, largely influenced by his tireless training and discipline, cannot be underestimated. He is surely one that needs to be harnessed especially because he has been giving his seniors
domestically a bloody nose on the table.

Although Sebatindira plays in the second tier of Uganda’s Table Tennis League, his improvement has been rapid over the last eight months. Earlier this year, he was part of Uganda’s senior team that travelled to Kenya for the Africa Cup/Club Championship.

Through his explosive display, Ssebatindira beat a 28-year-old Ethiopian opponent, to help Uganda win the silver medal. That was something. Yet, with a world title now, Ssebatindira is no joking subject.

Since the team of Paul Mutambuze, Francis Kateregga (RIP) and George Yiga helped Uganda win a bronze medal at the 1995 All Africa Games, arguably the greatest achievement by Ugandans in a sport that has existed here since 1952, and has the nation ranked 141 in the world, a certain nine-year-old is its greatest achiever.