KAMPALA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- When discussing rising stars in sports, Uganda's table tennis prodigy, Joseph Sebatindira, fits the description perfectly.

The 10-year-old, a student at Nakasero Primary School in the heart of Kampala, capital of Uganda, has been a dominant force in the U-11 category worldwide, holding the No. 1 ranking since last year.

Petra Sorling, President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), recognized Sebatindira as the world's top U-11 player from Africa. Sorling believes the young Ugandan has the potential to become a major figure in the sport in the coming years.

Sebatindira has already claimed two U-11 WTT World Contender titles in Germany and the Czech Republic this year, maintaining his top position. Speaking to Xinhua, he shared his ambitions. "My goal is to continue improving and compete with the best players at the senior level," said Sebatindira.

Though still a youth player, he is also among the top five in Uganda's men's national rankings.

"I am very grateful for the support from the Uganda Table Tennis Association and sponsors like Maria Musoke, who have given me the opportunity to travel and compete against top players around the world," he added.

Coming from a humble background, Sebatindira is not the only one in his family passionate about table tennis - his siblings also play the sport. His determination is evident as he works hard to shine on the international stage and raise Uganda's flag high.

Balancing academics and intensive training is no easy feat for the young athlete, but Robert Jjagwe, President of the Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA), commended his dedication. "We admire Sebatindira's level of focus. He takes both his studies and training very seriously," Jjagwe noted.

Sebatindira's aspirations to dominate world table tennis are not unfounded - he is already part of Uganda's senior men's national team. Last year, he was the youngest player on Uganda's squad for the 13th African Games in Ghana.

"I understand that reaching the top will require a lot of sacrifice and hard work. But with all the support I have, I am determined to keep pushing so that I can become one of the top senior players in table tennis," said Sebatindira.

His efforts were further acknowledged last week when he received a prestigious award at the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Awards Night. UOC President Dr. Donald Rukare praised him for his dedication and for representing Uganda on the global stage.

With continued hard work, discipline, and opportunities to compete in top tournaments worldwide, Joseph Sebatindira could well be on his way to fulfilling his dream of dominating world table tennis. Enditem

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