Uganda's top shuttler Edwin Ekiring has been offered to attend a high-level International Badminton Federation (IBF) training program in South Chinese city Guangzhou.

Ekiring's performance at the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia and outstanding show at Saarbruken, Germany last month have earned him the opportunity to train in Guangzhou Academies to help him qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"He performed so well during the first training and emerged as the best player from Africa. It's a good gesture to us. He proved a point and his performance is being recognized," said Simon Mugabi, the national badminton coach for the eastern African country.

"The concept of the program is simple and straightforward. Throughout the world there are training centers that provide facilities for athletes from developing countries and less developed countries with the kind of training which is needed to develop their potential and resources to the maximum," added Mugabi.

In addition to Ekiring, Zambia's Elly Mwabe is the other African men player selected for the IBF World Training Center Program 2006-2008.

Nigeria's Daniel Grace and Mauritius' Foo Kune Karen are the two women players selected for the program that starts on July 3.

IBF and Olympic Solidarity will meet the air travel to the academies while national associations cover costs for the competitions.

Source: Xinhua