Africa’s Top ranked badminton star Edwin Ekiring will miss the crowning of best sports personalities for the year 2011 in a ceremony that takes place on January 27th at Golf Course Hotel.
The function organised by Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA), will see more than 40 sports stars in different disciplines crowned. Ekiring, who is favourite to win the top USPA personality of the year award after being nominated, will be battling it out for his club BC Amerfoort in a decisive club game. Ekiring told URN Reporter on phone that he wanted to be at the gala but the club games are more important now.
Ekiring was last month nominated together with national rally champion Susan "Super Lady" Muwonge. The other nominees are Edmund Kyeyune, Annet Negesa, Africa junior athletics double gold medalists and double All Africa Games athlete Moses Kipsiro.
Ekiring, who is on the brink of qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics won silver at the 2011 All Africa Games in Mozambique and has managed to get into the top 100 in the world rankings. Ekiring said he will be jetting in on January 29th ahead of the Uganda International Championship that takes place on February 2nd to 5th.
The best sports personalities expected to get the awards in their respective disciplines include; Annet Negesa (Female Athlete), Moses Kipsiro (Male Athlete), Ronald Serugo (Boxer), Hamis Kiiza (Footballer), Susan Muwonge & Edmund Kyeyune (Rally Crew), Rogers Byaruhanga (Male golfer) and Flavia Namakula (Female golfer).
The others include; Rogers Mukasa (Male cricketer), Barbara Mukankusi (Female cricketer), Sula Matovu (Male Pool table star), Jacinta Kajubi (Female Pool table star), Duncan Mugabe (Tennis), Ivan Byekwaso (Body Building), Edwin Ekiring (Badminton/Male), Shamim Bangi (Badminton/Female), Martin Emoku (Karate/Male), Jessica Tiko (Karate/Female), Robert Nyaika (Table Tennis/Male), Amina Lukaya (Table Tennis/Female), Lillian Zawedde (Woodball/Female), Moses Namukoye (Woodball/Male), Justine Kimono (Rugby/Male), Asher Nakityo (Rugby/Female), Isaac Afidra (Basketball/Male), Purity Adiambo (Basketball/Female), Charles Ssekyaya (Weightlifting), Arthur Blick (Motocross), Elijah Emojong (Chess/Male), Grace Kigenyi (Chess/Female) Vivian Akech (Volleyball/Female), Dickens Otim (Volleyball/Male), Leon Twaha (Cycling/Male) Patrick Ochen (Darts/Male), Daina Amoding (Darts/Female), Titus Tugume (Kickboxing), Godfrey Sserunkuma (Ludo), and Peace Proscovia (Netball).
