Ritah Asiimwe

Ritah Asiimwe PLY
Personal information
Country	Uganda
Born	(1986-07-10) 10 July 1986 (age 38) Kabarole, Uganda
Residence	Kampala
Handedness	Left
Women's singles SU5 Women's doubles SL3–SU5 Mixed doubles SL3–SU5
Highest ranking	15 (WS 29 November 2022) 7 (WD with Elizabeth Mwesigwa 2 July 2024) 98 (XD with Kizza Edward Kabonge 20 September 2022)
Current ranking	19 (WS) 11 (WD with Elizabeth Mwesigwa) (5 September 2024)
Medal record Women's para-badminton Representing   Uganda African Championships 2022 Kampala Women's singles 2022 Kampala Women's doubles 2023 Kampala Women's doubles
BWF profile

Ritah Asiimwe PLY (born 10 July 1986) is a Ugandan para-badminton player who is ranked as the country's number one in the women's SU5 category. She is ranked as Africa's number 2 para badminton player and in 2020 became the first Ugandan para badminton player to compete in the Summer Paralympics.

As of 16 April 2024, ^[update] she is ranked 7th worldwide in the women's para-badminton doubles (SL3-SU5 category) and 19th worldwide in the women's para-badminton singles (SU5 category) by the Badminton World Federation. ^[1]

Background and education

Asiimwe has a bachelor's degree in Development studies from Mbarara University.

As a beneficiary of Badminton World Federation in partnership with the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) initiative, she graduated the University of London’s Postgraduate Certificate in International Sports Management programme in 2023. ^[2]

Sports

In January 2005, Asiimwe lost her right arm after an assault and now uses her left hand. ^{[3] [4]} After visiting the Uganda Para Badminton International in 2018, she took up the sport. ^[3]

While ranked 15th in the SU5 women's singles, she participated in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. ^{[5] [6]}

Asiimwe has participated in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the African Para-Badminton Championships. She won the SU5 women's singles and partnered with Elizabeth Mwesigwa to win the SL3-SU5 women's doubles in 2022, ^[7] and teamed up with Mwesigwa again in 2023 to finish tied for third in the SL3-SU5 Women's Doubles. ^[8]

Achievements

African Championships

Women's singles

Year	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result
2022 [a]	Lugogo Indoor Stadium, Kampala, Uganda	Ketsia Ambare	21–7, 21–12	Gold
		Mona Fares Mohamed	21–7, 24–26, 21–6
		Sumini Mutesi	21–18, 17–21, 21–14
		Josephine Zulu	21–10, 21–16

Women's doubles

Year	Venue	Partner	Opponent	Score	Result
2022	Lugogo Indoor Stadium, Kampala, Uganda	Elizabeth Mwesigwa	Sumini Mutesi Rose Nansereko	21–11, 21–16	Gold
2023	Lugogo Indoor Stadium, Kampala, Uganda	Elizabeth Mwesigwa	Mariam Eniola Bolaji Chinyere Lucky Okoro	10–21, 7–21	Bronze

See also

• Africa Para-Badminton Championships
• Badminton at the 2020 Summer Paralympics

References

1. "BWF Para Badminton World Rankings (4/16/2024): Ranking of Ritah ASIIMWE (P75781)". Badminton World Federation . Retrieved 18 April 2024.
2. "Auto Draft" . Retrieved 22 March 2024.
3. "Ugandan's Ritah Asiimwe retrains body and mind after loss of right hand". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
4. "Paralympics Review – Showcasing the Extraordinary". olympics.bwfbadminton.com. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
5. "Paralympics: So much to do". Monitor. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
6. "'Dream come true' for players as badminton makes long-waited Paralympics debut". France 24. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
7. "African Para Badminton Championships: Winners 2022". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
8. "African Para Badminton Championships 2023: Winners". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 18 April 2024.

Notes

1. This tournament uses a round robin system.

External links

• Ritah Asiimwe at BWF Badminton.com
• Ritah Asiimwe at BWF Para.TournamentSoftware.com (archived)
• Ritah Asiimwe at the International Paralympic Committee
• Ritah Asiimwe at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games