By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

THE Zambian pair of Chongo Mulenga and Olga Siamupangila yesterday stormed the semi finals of the mixed doubles event of the Uganda International Badminton Open Championship in Kampala.
Mulenga and Siamupangila outclassed the team of Elgamel Adham and Mohamed Naja of Egypt after recording an emphatic 2-0 victory to reach the semi finals of the tournament that comes to an end today.
To reach the quarters, the duo prevailed over the Ugandan pair of Brenda Awor and Alex Babu in the second round which was followed by the win over Adham and Naja to set a semi final clash against Nigeria at the MTN Arena, Lugogo today.
Meanwhile, Mulenga’s singles title quest in the junior championship men’s event ended at
the quarterfinal stage after suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Mohamed Amine Guelmaoui of Algeria.
The Zambian junior ace started on a strong note, winning the first set 21-18 before falling in the last two sets by an identical 21-19 score.
The result means the two Zambian players are now heavily banking on a successful semi final in the mixed doubles to restore Zambia’s pride after Siamupangila was earlier eliminated from women’s singles of the seniors’ tournament by Trupti Murgunde of India.
And Siamupangila said the duo were determined to come back home with a medal.
She said in an interview from Uganda that even though the competition was tough, they will put in their best when they face their Nigerian opponents.
“It has not been an easy tournament for everyone but I think we will go into the semi final knowing only a victory will see us walk out with medals,” she said.