Uganda’s former world No. 1 table tennis player Joseph Sebatindira has intensified preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, targeting another breakthrough on the international stage.
The 11-year-old has travelled to Sheffield, England, for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Hopes Week and Challenge, his final major preparation before Dakar.
Accompanied by coach Alvin Katumba, Sebatindira will train alongside some of the world’s leading Under-12 players at the English Institute of Sport from October 12 to 18.
The programme features five days of intensive training and educational sessions before concluding with competitive matches on October 17 and 18.
The camp presents an opportunity for Sebatindira to sharpen his skills against international opposition before competing for Olympic honours.
He will represent Uganda in the men’s singles and partner Jemimah Nakawala in the mixed doubles competition at the Dakar Expo Center in Diamniadio.
The table tennis competitions are scheduled for October 31 to November 5, during Africa’s first Youth Olympic Games.
From world No. 1 to Olympic ambitions
Despite his young age, Sebatindira arrives at the Youth Olympics with an impressive international record that places him among Uganda’s promising medal prospects.
He previously reached world No. 1 in the Under-11 rankings, becoming the first African male player to achieve the position in any ITTF age category.
His breakthrough came in 2023 when he defeated Egypt’s Hussein Eyad 3-0 to win the WTT Youth Contender Under-11 title in Cairo.
That achievement established him as Uganda’s first table tennis world champion and announced his arrival among the sport’s emerging talents.
Sebatindira followed that success with a silver medal in the boys’ Under-13 category at the 2024 WTT Youth Contender in Doha.
He also retained his Under-12 African title at the ITTF-Africa Hopes Week in Accra before claiming singles bronze at the 2025 African Youth Games in Luanda.
His international experience extends to the 2023 African Games in Ghana, where he represented Uganda at just nine years old.
Those achievements have strengthened expectations surrounding his participation in Dakar, although the competition presents another significant challenge.
“If the competition becomes tougher, I believe I can learn a lot from it,” Sebatindira said.
Sheffield camp offers crucial test
Coach Katumba believes Sebatindira’s exposure to international competition provides an important foundation for challenging the world’s leading young players.
“Joseph has been in many training camps abroad, he has played at world level and has built immense experience,” Katumba said.
The Sheffield programme will offer valuable competitive exposure, allowing Sebatindira to assess his readiness before travelling to Senegal.
Katumba is also optimistic about Uganda’s mixed doubles prospects, where Sebatindira will combine with Nakawala. “When they play as a team, it is a very good team,” he said.
The partnership provides Uganda with another opportunity to challenge for honours, complementing Sebatindira’s individual ambitions.
Building beyond Dakar 2026
Sebatindira’s journey began seven years ago at Nakasero Primary School, where he remains a pupil while pursuing his international table tennis career.
His development has benefited from support provided by his club, the Uganda Table Tennis Association and the ITTF.
Beyond Dakar, Katumba believes continued international exposure will be essential as Uganda prepares its emerging players for future major competitions.
“After Dakar, I expect them to train very hard, because in 2027 there are the All-Africa Games and in 2028, the Olympics,” Katumba said.
“We shall be working hard so that they are able to qualify for those games.”
Dakar represents another milestone for Sebatindira, in a remarkable young career, with the opportunity to translate his continental and world-level achievements into Youth Olympic success.