Badminton player Fadilah Shamika has set her sights on the Paris Olympics after achieving success in Africa. Her efforts in 2023, supported by family, the Uganda Badminton Association, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the National Council of Sports, catapulted her to the top of the continental badminton rankings in December. Fadilah’s ranking is the highest ever for a Ugandan badminton player, reaching 116th in the world. Looking ahead, she is targeting the All Africa Badminton Championship in Egypt in February and the African Games in Ghana in March, with hopes of securing a spot in the Paris Olympics.
Fadilah expressed her gratitude for the combined efforts that led to her success in 2023. She started the year with a women’s singles gold at the All African Badminton Seniors Championships, defeating the more experienced South African Johanita Scholtz. Despite being ranked 225th in the world, Fadilah fought back after losing the opening set and secured victory in subsequent sets.
Currently in Malaysia for a training program organized by Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA), Fadilah aims to accumulate points in various tournaments to enhance her chances of Olympic qualification. Uganda Badminton Association CEO Simon Mugabi praised her hard work and family support, highlighting her potential for qualification. Fadilah has already accumulated 16,140 points from 17 tournaments, leading the African rankings.
In addition to her singles success, Fadilah has also excelled in doubles partnerships, contributing to Uganda’s strong presence in the African badminton scene.
Key Achievements in 2023:
- All Africa Senior Championship 2023 Women’s Singles Gold Medalist
- Benin International 2023 Women’s Singles and Doubles Bronze Medalist
- Uganda International Series Women’s Singles Bronze Medalist
- Zambia International Women’s Doubles Bronze Medalist
- Botswana International Women’s Singles and Doubles Bronze Medalist
