Ugandan woodball captain Thomas Khedi made history on Wednesday after storming into the final of the 2025 Beach Woodball World Cup, following an impressive 3–1 semifinal victory over Hong Kong’s Kwok Ho Long at Laem Charoen Beach in Rayong, Thailand.
Khedi’s journey to the final has captured attention across the sport, especially after he stunned the world’s No. 2 ranked player, Namjumpa Kittakan of Thailand, with a 2–1 win in a dramatic quarterfinal clash. Riding on that momentum, he delivered a composed performance against Kwok Ho Long to seal his place in the final.
He will now face defending champion Chaisongkram Peera of Thailand in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown.
“It’s good that we are in the final and we are going to take the bull by the horns,” Khedi said after the match. “He is the defending champion, but I do not want to know. I will focus on my game with one agenda winning the gold.”
In the women’s competition, Uganda’s Jackie Naula and Christine Birungi reached the semifinals of the women’s doubles category after beating Hong Kong 3–1. They are set to face the winner of the Thailand vs Indonesia quarterfinal later today.
Team coach Onesimus Atamba praised the squad for their resilience and focus. “I’m so happy with the performance of the team,” he said. “We started on a slow note because of the rains, but today they picked up and adapted quickly to the conditions, giving us good results.”
In men’s doubles, the Ugandan duo of Khedi and Giles Amanyire put in a strong performance with a 3–0 win over Hong Kong but fell 2–1 to Indonesia in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, anticipation continues to build as all players await the final results of the stroke category, which will determine who qualifies for the medal rounds in that format.
The 2025 Beach Woodball World Cup has seen strong performances from Uganda’s team, raising hopes for multiple podium finishes and enhancing the country's growing reputation in the global woodball arena.