Exciting First Day at the All Africa Under 19 Championships in Thies, Senegal
The All Africa Junior Under 19 Championships are currently underway in Thies, Senegal, bringing together some of the continent’s most talented young badminton players. The team event, scheduled from August 12 to 14, features two groups, each with four teams, competing for top honors. Group A includes Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Burundi, while Group B consists of Mauritius, South Africa, Senegal, and Benin.
Today morning, at the Stadium Lat Dior in Senegal, Group A matches kicked off with a dominant performance by Algeria against Tunisia on Court 1. Algeria swept the tie 5-0, starting with a decisive victory in the mixed doubles, where Ryane Mazri and Ines Madi defeated Tunisia’s Abderrahmen Trabelsi and Narim Jebali 21-7, 21-13. In the men’s singles, Oussama Keddou continued Algeria’s winning streak by defeating Oubeid Errahmen Kasraoui 21-6, 21-13. The women’s singles match saw Amira Bouhrira victory over Elaa Khedhiri 21-13, 21-12. Algeria’s dominance continued in the men’s doubles, with Daoud Aimen and Yacine Laichi defeating Ahmed Chtioui and Oubeid Errahmen Kasraoui. The final match of the tie, the women’s doubles, was won by Manel Hamza and Deloum Riham against Narim Jebali and Elaa Khedhiri. After the tie, Oussama Keddou expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We are very happy to win our first tie and win our precious first point. We hope to continue with the same tempo throughout the competition.”
The next match in Group A was between Egypt and Burundi, where Egypt secured a 5-0 victory. The match opened with mixed doubles, where Mahmoud Mohamed Mahmoud and Fatema Rabie defeated Prince Irakoze and Keren Igiraneza. Egypt continued its winning streak through men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, and finally, women’s doubles, with Elgendy Hadia and Lojaine Wasfy defeating Keren Igiraneza and Berthila Niyomwungere 21-5, 21-2. Reem Hussein, a women’s singles player, commented, “This first win is important as it enabled us to win our very first point in the group stage. We know that the competition is tough, and we must secure all wins to reach our objectives that we have fixed before coming here.”
On Court 3, Group B’s matches embraced a showdown between Mauritius and Benin. Mauritius dominated the tie, starting with mixed doubles, where Aidan Yu Kiat Siow Yin Young and Chiara How Hong defeated Lewis Kpanou and Blessing Atchade 21-6, 21-2. Agnivesh Ragoonundun secured the men’s singles win against Jeredy Steve Bassa 21-12, 21-7. Layna Luxmi Chiniah won in the women’s singles against Anna Gladys Akakpo 21-3, 21-9. Mauritius further secured their victory with a men’s doubles win by Nyanesh Anand Changea and Tejas Savoo against Jeredy Steve Bassa and Lewis Kpanou 21-17, 21-14. The final match, the women’s doubles, was won by Elsa How Hong and Mia Mi Lin Siow Yin Young against Anna Gladys and Blessing Atchade 21-9, 21-7.
The next match in Group B featured South Africa versus Senegal, with South Africa winning the tie 5-0. The matches began with men’s singles, where Miguel Vigario defeated Demba Ndiaye 21-7, 21-15. Yiwen Li secured the women’s singles win against Aissatou Faye 21-10, 21-4. The men’s doubles match saw Tomothy Gabriels and Lourens Scheffer defeat Demba Ndiaye and Lamine Traore 21-13, 21-10. Chloe Lai and Yiwen Li continued South Africa’s dominance in the women’s doubles, defeating Kartoumy Doucoure and Aissatou Ly 21-6, 21-9. The final match, the mixed doubles, featured Miguel Vigario and Hadiyah Carrim defeating Aly Amadou Kane and Aissatou Faye 21-4, 21-7.
The afternoon session commenced at 15:00 local time, featuring another four matches across both groups.
In Group A, Egypt continued their winning streak by defeating Tunisia 5-0. The Egyptian team, seeded number 1 in the tournament are leaving no stones unturned. Similarly, Algeria maintained their dominance by securing a 5-0 victory over Burundi, further solidifying their position in the group standings.
Over in Group B, Mauritius emerged victorious with a commanding 5-0 win against the host nation, Senegal. The Mauritian team played brilliantly, overcoming the local favorites in front of a spirited home crowd. The final match of the afternoon saw South Africa continue their flawless performance with a 5-0 victory over Benin, reinforcing their status as one of the top contenders in the tournament.
With today’s matches concluded, attention now turns to the final matches of the group stage, scheduled for tomorrow. These matches will be crucial in determining the group standings and setting the stage for the knockout rounds. While the competition heats up, the teams are eager to secure their positions and continue their journey toward championship glory.
For those eager to keep up with the excitement at the All Africa Junior Under 19 Championships, be sure to follow the action live on our YouTube channel, WhatsApp channel, and Facebook page. Stay updated with live matches, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes content as the tournament evolves. Join us online to support your favorite teams and experience the thrill of junior badminton at its finest!
