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All eyes, especially those in Uganda, will be on Team Uganda, waiting for moments of magic and perhaps a new chapter in their nation's athletic history.
Budapest beckons as Team Uganda, brimming with talent and determination, sets out for the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
The momentous send-off, held at Copper Chimney in Lugogo, saw athletes and officials gather in an atmosphere laden with hope and ambition.
The Assistant General Secretary of Administration at the National Council of Sports (NCS), Joseph Oluga, presided over the event.
Uganda will be represented by 21 athletes this time around, with 12 valiant men and nine fierce women ready to stake their claim on the global athletic stage.
Joshua Cheptegei will captain this ship of talent, while experienced Coach Benjamin Njia charts their path to glory.
The team's journey to Hungary will happen in two phases. First, the track athletes will depart for Budapest on Thursday morning, followed by the marathon runners next week.
Cheptegei aims to dazzle the world once again, not just in his signature 10,000-meter race but also in the challenging 5,000-meter event.
Cheptegei is a two-time 10,000m World champion from 2019 and 2022, World silver medalist from 2017, and the 2019 World Cross Country champion.
The reigning 10,000m and 5000m world record holder is also the reigning Olympic champion in the 5000 metres and the silver medallist for the 10,000 metres.
On the women's front, the lineup is just as stellar. Peruth Chemutai, the reigning women’s 3000m steeplechase champion, leads the nine-member female squad.
Accompanying her are the luminous talents of 800m world champion Halima Nakaayi, 1500m national record holder Winnie Nanyondo, and Prisca Chesang, who has valiantly battled back from injury to debut at this esteemed championship in the 5000m.
In the marathon, Stephen Kissa holds the national record and will be looking to make his mark, accompanied by Victor Kiplangat, the recent Commonwealth marathon gold winner.
Newcomers too promise to light up the track, notably Tarsis Orogot, the young sprinter.
With a successful campaign in Eugene, Oregon, still fresh in their memories, where Uganda clinched three medals including Cheptegei's gold, the team is poised for even greater success in Budapest.
Coach Njia confidently shared, "Our team's preparations have been proceeding smoothly. We are optimistic about our performance and aspire to secure more medals in Budapest."
Budapest is set to come alive from the 19th to the 27th August as athletes from around the globe converge in a celebration of speed, endurance, and human spirit.
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