KAMPALA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Africa's top ranked female player Kate Foo Kune tipped Monday Team Mauritius to win a medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games slated for April 4-15 in Australia.
Fresh from winning the Uganda International Badminton Open Championship title for the singles and mixed doubles over the weekend, Foo Kune said that focus has now turned to the Games.
"We have built a strong team and we have what it takes to capture a medal in Australia," added the 24-year-old.
Speaking about the group Mauritius has been placed in that includes Singapore, Zambia and Jamaica, Foo Kune said they are confident of making it through this group to the later stages of the competition.
Georges Julien Paul, the top men's player in Mauritius and Africa is also confident about their chances to win a medal in Australia.
"Most of us in the team are still young and have gathered a lot of experience now. We are going all out to win a medal for Mauritius," he said.
But Uganda's top player Edwin Ekiring, who features for a Club in Luxembourg, said they have no chance to perform well at the Commonwealth Games because the team has not even started preparation because the government has not sent financial support yet.
"We are in a tough group and there is no way you can expect miracles when you can't start preparing early enough," added Ekiring.
Uganda will play alongside England, Australia and South Africa in Group C of the men's competition.
Malaysia will head into competition as the nation to beat, having won the past three consecutive gold medals in the team event, but they will have strong competition in India and England who won a silver medal at the Glasgow 2014 event.