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Ritah Asiimwe

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Ritah Asiimwe
PLY
Personal information
Country Uganda
Born (1986-07-10) 10 July 1986 (age 38)
Kabarole, Uganda
ResidenceKampala
HandednessLeft
Women's singles SU5
Women's doubles SL3–SU5
Mixed doubles SL3–SU5
Highest ranking15 (WS 29 November 2022)
7 (WD with Elizabeth Mwesigwa 2 July 2024)
98 (XD with Kizza Edward Kabonge 20 September 2022)
Current ranking19 (WS)
11 (WD with Elizabeth Mwesigwa) (5 September 2024)
Medal record
Women's para-badminton
Representing  Uganda
African Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Kampala Women's singles
Gold medal – first place 2022 Kampala Women's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Kampala Women's doubles

Ritah Asiimwe PLY (born 10 July 1986) is a Ugandan para-badminton player who is ranked as the country's number one in the women's SU5 category. She is ranked as Africa's number 2 para badminton player and in 2020 became the first Ugandan para badminton player to compete in the Summer Paralympics.

As of 16 April 2024, she is ranked 7th worldwide in the women's para-badminton doubles (SL3-SU5 category) and 19th worldwide in the women's para-badminton singles (SU5 category) by the Badminton World Federation.[1]

Background and education

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Asiimwe has a bachelor's degree in Development studies from Mbarara University.

As a beneficiary of Badminton World Federation in partnership with the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) initiative, she graduated the University of London’s Postgraduate Certificate in International Sports Management programme in 2023.[2]

Sports

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In January 2005, Asiimwe lost her right arm after an assault and now uses her left hand.[3][4] After visiting the Uganda Para Badminton International in 2018, she took up the sport.[3]

While ranked 15th in the SU5 women's singles, she participated in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.[5][6]

Asiimwe has participated in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the African Para-Badminton Championships. She won the SU5 women's singles and partnered with Elizabeth Mwesigwa to win the SL3-SU5 women's doubles in 2022,[7] and teamed up with Mwesigwa again in 2023 to finish tied for third in the SL3-SU5 Women's Doubles.[8]

Achievements

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African Championships

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Women's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2022[a] Lugogo Indoor Stadium, Kampala, Uganda Central African Republic Ketsia Ambare 21–7, 21–12 Gold Gold
Egypt Mona Fares Mohamed 21–7, 24–26, 21–6
Uganda Sumini Mutesi 21–18, 17–21, 21–14
Zambia Josephine Zulu 21–10, 21–16

Women's doubles

Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result
2022 Lugogo Indoor Stadium,
Kampala, Uganda
Uganda Elizabeth Mwesigwa Uganda Sumini Mutesi
Uganda Rose Nansereko
21–11, 21–16 Gold Gold
2023 Lugogo Indoor Stadium,
Kampala, Uganda
Uganda Elizabeth Mwesigwa Nigeria Mariam Eniola Bolaji
Nigeria Chinyere Lucky Okoro
10–21, 7–21 Bronze Bronze

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BWF Para Badminton World Rankings (4/16/2024): Ranking of Ritah ASIIMWE (P75781)". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Auto Draft". Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Ugandan's Ritah Asiimwe retrains body and mind after loss of right hand". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Paralympics Review – Showcasing the Extraordinary". olympics.bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Paralympics: So much to do". Monitor. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  6. ^ "'Dream come true' for players as badminton makes long-waited Paralympics debut". France 24. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  7. ^ "African Para Badminton Championships: Winners 2022". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  8. ^ "African Para Badminton Championships 2023: Winners". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 18 April 2024.

Notes

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  1. ^ This tournament uses a round robin system.
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