The 2026 Africa Under-19 Badminton Championships kicked off on September 27 in Egypt, with 12 nations participating in the tournament. The event is being held at the Cairo International Stadium from September 27 to October 3. The opening ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Dr. Ahmed Mokhtar, who oversees the Central Administration for Sports Performance, and Hisham Al-Tahami, Deputy President of the African Badminton Confederation.
The opening ceremony featured a parade of flags representing the participating countries, as well as a special performance showcasing ancient Egyptian civilization. The ceremony also included welcoming speeches for the delegations and a musical performance. Hadaia Hassani, President of the Egyptian Badminton Federation, expressed her joy at the start of the tournament, welcoming all participants from brotherly and friendly countries.
Hassani emphasized that the participation of the teams reflects the spirit of fair competition and the strong will of the heroes of tomorrow and the stars of the future. She also stressed that hosting the African championship in Egypt enhances the country's regional status and demonstrates the Egyptian Badminton Federation's commitment to supporting and developing the sport.
The Egyptian team is competing in the championship, which is an important event for them as it takes place on home soil. The championship is also a crucial preparatory step before the World Junior Championships, which will be held in Egypt from October 5 to 17. The participating teams are divided into three groups, with Egypt heading Group 2, which also includes South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Tunisia.
The other groups are: Group 1 - Algeria, Uganda, and Zambia; and Group 3 - Mauritius, Ghana, and Senegal. The championship features 12 teams: Egypt, Tunisia, Uganda, Algeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Mauritius, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Libya, and Zambia. The tournament will feature team events and individual competitions.
The African Badminton Confederation is represented at the event by several officials, including Hisham Al-Tahami, Deputy President of the confederation. Other attendees include Major General Ashraf Helmy, President of the Egyptian Table Tennis Federation, and Dr. Hadaia Hassani, President of the Egyptian Badminton Federation.
The championship is expected to be a competitive event, with several teams vying for top honors. Egypt's hosting of the event demonstrates its commitment to developing badminton and its ambition to become a major player in the sport. The championship will conclude on October 3, with the winning teams receiving medals and accolades.
Key points
- The 2026 Africa Under-19 Badminton Championships are being held in Egypt from September 27 to October 3.
- Twelve nations are participating in the tournament, which features team events and individual competitions.
- The championship is an important preparatory step for the World Junior Championships, which will be held in Egypt later this year.
