Uganda men crash out despite Tanzania win

Uganda’s men, the Gladiators, bowed out of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship without reaching the semifinals despite beating Tanzania 35-28 in their final Group A encounter at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday.

The victory offered a bright moment in an otherwise frustrating campaign, but it came too late to revive Uganda’s hopes of reaching the last four after defeats to India and Sri Lanka left them with too much ground to cover.

Uganda will play their final group match against Nigeria on Thursday, but the result will have no impact on their qualification chances.

The team has collected six points from six matches, winning three and losing three, to sit fourth in Group A. Sri Lanka and India lead the standings with 10 points apiece, while Malaysia are third on six points, ahead of Uganda.

Uganda, however, had something to celebrate against their East African neighbours, producing a determined display to secure a seven-point victory in a match that remained tight until the closing stages.

The contest was finely balanced from the start, with Uganda taking a slim 16-14 lead into half-time. Tanzania stayed within reach, but the Ugandans found another gear late in the second half, inflicting a crucial All-Out to pull away and seal the win.

Derrick Ibanda Sirivesiti led Uganda’s charge with 12 points, including a vital Super Tackle, as the team worked hard to keep Tanzania at bay.

Daglas Mulalira added six points, while Tenywa Gasta played an important defensive role with four tackle points.

Uganda finished with 19 raid points and 15 tackle points, inflicted two All-Outs and registered three Super Tackles. Tanzania managed 16 raid points and 11 tackle points but failed to inflict an All-Out or record a Super Tackle.

Despite the defeat, Juma Sultania stood out for Tanzania, finishing with 13 points to emerge as the match’s top scorer. Masudi Omary also made his contribution with six tackle points, but the Tanzanians could not find a way past Uganda in the decisive moments.

For Uganda, the result was a welcome response after a campaign in which their performances have been encouraging at times but not consistent enough to secure a place in the semi-finals.

They started strongly on October 23, beating Malaysia 45-29, before suffering a 44-30 defeat to India the following day.

A narrow 36-34 loss to Sri Lanka on October 25 dealt another blow to their ambitions. Uganda recovered with a convincing 47-22 victory over England on October 26, but the earlier setbacks left little room for further mistakes.

The 35-28 win over Tanzania added another victory to their record, yet it could not change their position in the group.

Uganda’s final assignment against Nigeria on Thursday will therefore be an opportunity to end their campaign on a high, even though the outcome will not alter their fate.

India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka are the three sides that have officially qualified for the men’s semi-finals at the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, with the final spot from Group B still to be confirmed.

The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, running from October 23 to 31, has brought together 13 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams for nine days of competition at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The event marks the first time kabaddi has been given a dedicated Commonwealth championship, offering participating countries an opportunity to test themselves on a new international stage.

The men’s teams are divided into two groups. Group A comprises India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, while Group B features Bangladesh, Kenya, Canada, Australia, Scotland and Singapore.

Each team played the other sides in its group once, with the leading teams advancing to the semi-finals on October 30. The medal matches are scheduled for October 31.

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