World Winter Games | Uganda wins Gold at Special Olympics Games
Team Uganda has won gold in the World Special Olympics Winter Games Unified Hockey event. They beat Chinese Taipei 5-2 in their last match to accumulate 9 points in the round robin event of the U-4 category in Pyeongchang, Korea. The gold medal was decided among the top four countries, with Uganda the only African country that made it to the group. Uganda had managed to finish among the top four countries unbeaten in the competition that attracted Hong Kong, China, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Russia, Gibraltar, Egypt, Azerbaijan, USA, Greece and Sweden.
They then qualified for the final round, where they beat Hong Kong 4-2, downed Italy 7-2 before beating Chinese Taipei 5-2 and lifting the gold medal with the maximum nine points accumulated from 3 games. Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong settled for silver and bronze respectively. According to Team Uganda leader of delegation Genevieve Bamu, the players gave all they had to see that Uganda wins gold, a repeat of their performance in the Nagano 2005 Winter Games.
“It was a sweet victory. The players are celebrating,” said Bamu.
Team Uganda was training in the MTN Arena at Lugogo for the games, and before departure, they promised to put up a good show. Team Uganda was made up of Treasure Ayebare, Patricia Giramira, Shakil Kabazi, Joel Kigozi, Marvin Kulubya, Julius Lubega, Muhammed Lukwago, Jimmy Muyomba, Joan Nagawa, Swabura Namatovu, Justine Namutebi, Charles Okello, Daniel Ssemanda, Solome Zawedde.