Uganda suffer mixed fortunes at Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in India

Uganda experienced a challenging outing at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, registering defeats in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

The women’s team, known as the She Gladiators, put up a resilient display at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura but ultimately fell 41-18 to tournament hosts India. Despite showing tactical discipline and defensive grit, Uganda struggled to break down a formidable Indian defence. Beatrice Namataka delivered a standout performance with seven points, which included an inspiring four-point super raid in the second half. Catherine Nabwegamo also added two tackle points for Uganda, while India captain Nidhi Sharma led her side with nine points. Despite the loss, the She Gladiators remain second in Group A and are still in contention for a semi-final spot.

Meanwhile, Uganda’s men’s team, The Gladiators, endured an agonizing afternoon after squandering a commanding lead to suffer a 34-36 defeat against Sri Lanka. Uganda had appeared destined for victory after establishing an 18-27 advantage, relying on a defensive approach to contain Sri Lanka’s star raider, Milinda Chathuranga. However, a fierce late comeback from the islanders overturned the deficit in the closing stages. Douglas Mulalira paced the Ugandan side with eight points, while Chathuranga claimed 11 points for Sri Lanka.

The defeats leave both Ugandan squads looking to regroup ahead of their upcoming fixtures. The women’s side prepares to face Nigeria, while the men look to bounce back against East African neighbors Tanzania as they chase crucial points for semi-final qualification.

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