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The 9th African University Games wrap up in Ethopia

10 July 2018

The 9th Africa University Games, a multi-sport event is a biennial event for university athletes in the continent, for the first time came to the horn of Africa, Mekelle University, Ethiopia. The games ended with a lot of applause for the organizing committee by attending federations and students.

 

The six days event from 2-8 July featured 18 countries, 57 universities and over 500 athletes competing in ten sports and can be described as one of the best events in recent times. The 9th African University Games, which had a change in format where attendance was by individual universities, meant that delegations did not come under a national umbrella but as individual schools. The reason behind this according to FASU is to foster sports appreciation and development in every university across Africa.

 

Hosted in Tigray (The city of Knowledge) by Mekelle University in Ethiopia, expectations where very high for performances at the games and the future implications for Africa in world sports which was reiterated in the words of Dr. Debretsion, Gerbremicheal acting president of the Tigray nation, he said.

 

“This tournament is what brings us together under the umbrella of African Unity and fosters our common history and destiny. Athletes meet and exchange contacts and possibly remain friends for life which is what at the long run will bring shared development to the whole of African not just in sports.”

 

With a lot of innovations and excellent performance Team Uganda dominated the games led by NDejje University who went home with nineteen medals comprising of 10 gold medals, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals and team captain Pius Adome believes there is only more to come from the athletes from universities across Uganda.

 

“We dominated because the teams and athletes were chosen on merit after the local inter-university games and if we keep this kind of performance going, we will do greater things both in Africa and the World.”

 

Team Uganda participated in six sports out of the ten available at the games, basketball, Volleyball, athletics, badminton, handball and tennis. The team raked in 44 medals including 16 gold, 17 silver and 11 bronze medals.

 

Dominating the track and field events especially in the long distance races, African University champion and FISU gold medalist Dorcas Ajok put in another 800 meters performance to further establish herself as a star in long distance racing in Africa.

 

Badminton coach from the Uganda Christian University Ivan Kalemunda said “This was really great for the athletes, it gave us an opportunity to compete against other players from better countries in Badminton like Nigeria, Mauritius etc, This competition is a stepping stone to achieving even better results in the future for Uganda nation in sports.”

 

These results especially from Universities such as Ndejje University, Nkumba University and Uganda Christian University who have previously dominated eastern University games shows progression in the development of University games in Uganda and the countries desire to continue in building and developing athletes from the school system.

 Volunteers helped make the of the 9th All African Games the success

Also impressive at the games was University of Johannesburg South Africa with 9 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronze medal, Addis Abba University of Ethiopia with 8 gold medals, 6 silver and 11 bronze medals becoming the most successful home university at the events. Hosts Makelle University gave their fans something to cheer raking in 20 medals, 4 gold, 9 silver and 7 bronze medals.

 

The local organizing committee basking in the euphoria of a successful event hosting applauded the delegations and athletes for bringing excellent sports performances and incredible sportsmanship to the city of Tigray. With one thousand volunteers to assist the LOC the games went as smoothly as expected.

 The planting of FISU and FASO trees took place during the Games

Athletes have departed for their various universities and Countries but the City of Tigray will not forget Africa and Professor Kindeya G. Hiwot, President, Mekelle University says “We planted trees as a reminder of the All African University Games 2018, all the participating universities have also done the same”. The hosts for the next African University Games 2020 will be announced later this year.

 Team Uganda at the 9th All Africa Games 2018 in Ethopia

Photos: Henry Nsekuye