The women’s doubles competition moved into the Round of 16 at the Africa AirBadminton Championships, with the remaining pairs continuing their fight for a place in the quarter-finals at Aero Beach in Entebbe.
Benin’s Anna Gladys Akakpo and Flora Kpogbemabou produced one of the strongest performances on Court 1, defeating Algeria’s E. Touati and I. Ziani 3–0.
The Beninese pair took the opening game 9–6 before producing an even stronger second game. Akakpo and Kpogbemabou gave Algeria very little room to respond, winning 9–1 and moving within one game of victory. Algeria tried to recover in the third, but Benin remained composed and closed out the match 9–6.
One of the closest matches of the women’s doubles round saw Kenya’s Blessings Buyanzi and Jacinta Nyaranda Sengera take on Burkina Faso’s Rachidatou Bilogo and Kadidjata Diallo.
Kenya made the better start and won the opening game 9–4. Burkina Faso responded immediately in the second, also winning 9–4 to level the match.
The contest remained close as both pairs fought for an advantage. Kenya took the fourth game 9–1, forcing a deciding fifth game after Burkina Faso had won the third 9–3. With a place in the next stage on the line, Burkina Faso eventually found the points needed to close out the final game 9–4 and complete a 3–2 victory.
Another Burkina Faso pair, L. Belem and S. Maiga, also progressed after their match against Rwanda’s B. Shimo Gashema and V. Urusaro ended as a walkover.
The results have now brought the women’s doubles competition into a more decisive stage. Some pairs progressed comfortably in straight games, while others had to fight through five-game contests to keep their campaigns alive.
With the Round of 16 underway, the remaining teams will now be looking to secure their places in the quarter-finals. The closer the competition gets to the medal rounds, the greater the importance of every game at Aero Beach.
The individual events continue to bring together players from across the continent, with the women’s doubles draw now set for another round of important battles in Entebbe.
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