The mixed doubles competition provided several closely fought matches as the AABC Doubles & Triples moved from the Round of 32 into the Round of 16 at the Africa AirBadminton Championships in Entebbe.
With only one chance to progress in the knockout stages, several pairs were pushed into four- and five-game matches, while others managed to advance with more comfortable victories.
Benin’s Oswald Fano-Dosh and Anna Gladys Akakpo were among the pairs to make a strong start. They faced Mauritius’ Lubah and S. Young Pak Kian in the Round of 32 and secured a 3–1 victory.
Benin took the opening two games 9–3 and 9–5, but Mauritius fought back in the third, winning it 9–7. Fano-Dosh and Akakpo responded well in the fourth game, taking it 9–3 to confirm their place in the Round of 16.
The Beninese pair then faced Egypt’s M. Hesham Hassan and N. Refaat. Once again, Benin made a fast start, winning the first two games 9–4 and 9–6.
Egypt did not give up, taking the third game 9–6 and keeping the match alive. Benin, however, finished strongly in the fourth, winning 9–2 to secure a 3–1 victory and move into the next stage.
Mauritius was also involved in one of the closest Round of 32 matches. Gervais Rampersand and G. Ancharaz faced Burkina Faso’s F. Kafando and Kadidjata Diallo in a contest that went all the way to a deciding fifth game.
The two pairs exchanged games before Mauritius managed to hold its nerve at the end. Rampersand and Ancharaz won the fifth game 11–9 to take the match 3–2 and advance.
Another five-game battle involved Algeria’s R. Afenai and D. Naama and Benin’s Carlos Kpanou and Flora Kpogbemabou. The match remained extremely tight, with Benin eventually securing a 3–2 victory. The final two games were particularly close, with Benin winning both 13–12.
NOC Kenya’s C. Simiyu and Jacinta Nyaranda Sengera also moved through after defeating Algeria’s M. Kessari and I. Ziani 3–1. Algeria won the opening game 9–6, but NOC Kenya responded by taking the next three games 9–4, 9–7 and 9–3.
Elsewhere, Egypt’s A. Abdelsattar and R. Hussien defeated Burkina Faso’s M. Ouedraogo and L. Belem 3–0, while Tunisia’s M. Somrani and M. Ben Ahmed also advanced with a straight-games victory over Burundi’s D. Iteriteka and K. Igiraneza.
The mixed doubles draw has therefore already produced a number of close encounters as the competition moves into the Round of 16. The results also show the depth across the field, with players from different countries continuing to challenge one another throughout the knockout rounds.
The next matches will determine which pairs make it into the quarter-finals and remain in the race for the individual medals. With the competition now moving towards its decisive stages, the pressure will continue to increase on the players still standing.
For more news, results and highlights from the Africa AirBadminton Championships, follow BCA TV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, and stay connected with all the action from Entebbe.
