Uganda names 11-member squad for World U-20 Athletics Championships

KAMPALA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Uganda Athletics has named an 11-member team for the 2026 World U-20 Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, the United States.

The championships will take place from Aug. 4 to 9, bringing together leading junior athletes from around the world.

The Ugandan squad, coached by Immaculate Chemutai and Jimmy Adar, comprises seven men and four women who will compete in middle- and long-distance events.

"We have picked a team that has trained hard in Kenya and we believe they have what it takes to perform and win medals in the USA," Dominic Otuchet, president of Uganda Athletics, told Xinhua on Monday.

Otuchet said the federation was placing strong emphasis on developing junior athletes, whom it views as the country's future stars.

"We need to keep giving the young athletes the platform to gain exposure and taking part in international events is a good place," added Otuchet.

He also said that although Uganda did not win a gold medal at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Scotland, the federation was encouraged by the country's bronze-medal finish. ■