2025 Uganda Squash Open
Main Finals:
- Men: Femi Shedara (Nigeria) 1-3 Muqtadir Nimji (Kenya) – [11-13, 11-09, 03-11, 04-11]
- Women: Polite Mubule (Zimbabwe) 3-1 Rofiat Abdulazeez (Nigeria) – [11-07, 06-11, 11-05, 11-05]
Plate Finals:
- Men: Leon Keya (Kenya) Beat Vivian Sagar (Kenya)
- Women: Charity Muriuki (Kenya) Beat Maureen Namugaya (Uganda)
It was excitement as the 2025 Uganda Squash open officially climaxed at the lavish Rock Classic Hotel courts in Tororo, Eastern Uganda on Saturday, 22nd February.
Close to 100 players from the host country Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nigeria, Egypt and India were engaged in the week-long championship.
Like the norm has been over the years, the foreign legion of players once again dominated this championship with victories in the main cup and plate category.
Kenyan Muqtadir Nimji, winner of the Uganda Open in 2023 convincingly beat Nigeria’s hard attacker Femi Shedara 3-1 in a thrilling finale.
Muqtadir won the first set 13-11, recovering from 5-10 at some stage to triumph.
Femi recovered for the second set and won 11-09 before the Kenyan won the subsequent two sets 11-03 and 11-04 amidst a charged up and tense environ.
“I am happy for this victory” Muqtadir who won the main championship trophy and $2000 prize money sighed.
“He (Femi) is a good player and I needed extra effort to win this game; including the mental part of it” Muqtadir stated.
Uganda’s top seed Paul Kadoma settled for third place alongside Ravi Dixit.
Kadoma had lost 0-3 (11-5, 11-6 and 11-2) to Femi in the semi-finals whilst Dixit fell to Muqtadir 1-3 (5-11, 11-4, 5-11 and 5-11).
Ladies:
In the women final, Polite Mubure from Zimbabwe overcame a hard battling Rofiat Abdulazeez from Nigeria 3-1 in the final.
Mubure opened up with a 11-07 victory in game one. Rofiat made quick amends with 11-6 recovery in game two.
Mubure restored her mojo with solid displays in the last two sets, triumphing 11-05 and 11-05.
“Oh, thanks be to God” Mubure, a member at Belgravia club in Harare acknowledged.
“It has been a competitive week of action and I salute the organizing team for this tournament, the players and sponsors” Mubure acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Kenya dominated the plate category, winning both the male and female dockets.
Leon Keya overcame Vivian Sagar in the male cluster whilst Charity Muriuki smiled past Maureen Namugaya from Uganda for the females.
The top performers received trophies and had a share of the total prize money of 6,300 USD (at least Ug.Shs 22,000,000) with all players each getting a certificate of participation.
The closing ceremony was witnessed by the president of Africa Squash Rackets Federation Dr. Lucky Millo, Uganda Squash Rackets Association president John Bosco Ahimbisibwe Tamwesigire and his entire executive committee, National Council of Sports acting assistant general secretary Sarah Chelangat, Eastern Youth Member of Parliament Hon. Bernard Onen and other area leaders.
Tamwesigire hinted about the introduction of Video Assistant Refereeing (starting at the semi-final stage) as a key development for the tournament.
He lauded he fair-play spirit and high level of discipline exhibited by the players throughout the tournament; commending the different stakeholders as tournament director, transport director, operations director, finance director, tournament coordinator and others for the collective roles executed.
Dr Millo commended the work of the Uganda Squash Rackets Association for organizing such a successful tournament, a precursor for the Africa Seniors Championship coming up in November 2025.
“I want to applaud in a special way the Uganda Squash Rackets Association for having organized such a great tournament that had a number of players from other African countries taking part. These are early good signs of preparations for the 2025 Africa seniors championship in November later this year” Dr Millo revealed.
NCS representative Chelangat commended the good work of USRA to spreading the game in the different parts of the country.
She vowed that NCS will continue supporting Squash development in the country as part of their mandate.
“National Council of Sports appreciates the work of USRA to grow the game. We shall continue to support you and also enhance more finances to enable you continue with the work. We shall ensure inclusion of Squash facilities in major stadia being constructed” Chelangat, the acting assistant general secretary noted.
The championship was organized by Uganda Squash Rackets Association (USRA), with support from the National Council of Sports (NCS), Rock Classic Hotel (venue facility, accommodation and meals) as well as Lactic Sports.
There are plans to elevate the Uganda Squash Open to a PSA status.
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