KAMPALA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Africa's third best women's player, Bridget Shamim Bangi on Wednesday left the country to take part in three International tournaments in Europe.
Bangi told Xinhua in an interview before departure that she is determined to perform well this year as she tries to accumulate points towards qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"I know playing in these big tournaments in Estonia, Sweden and Iceland will help me improve better," she said.
The Ndejje University student who was accompanied by her coach William Kabindi said she is targeting to come top of Africa so that she can also improve her world rankings.
Bangi, who is ranked 115th in the world, and Uganda's top men' s player Edwin Ekiring will participate in the Yonex Estonia Championship that runs Jan. 8-11. Bangi will later participate in the Swedish Masters Championship Jan. 15-18 before heading for the Iceland Championship that takes place Jan. 22-25.
"Our target will be to see that Bangi gets some points from the three tournaments. We are aware strong players from Asia and Europe will take part in some of these tournaments, but we have prepared well," said Coach Kabindi.
Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Badminton Association Simon Mugabi said they excluded Ekiring from the two other tournaments in Sweden and Iceland because he will be busy with Club engagements in Holland.
Ekiring, who reclaimed Africa's top men's slot last month, has participated in the last two Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012, while Bangi has only participated in Commonwealth and All Africa Games.
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