Spreading love between Uganda and Serbia: Vuleta and Cheptegei shine at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest

Ivana Vuleta and Joshua Chepetegei are the unorthodox diplomats in Uganda-Serbia relations.

SPORTS GIST Spreading love between Uganda and Serbia: Vuleta and Cheptegei shine at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest

Moses King 18:38 - 21.08.2023

The success of athletes at the National Athletics Centre, Budapest echoes globally intertwining nations in a rare camaraderie of diplomatic love and affection that previous required the soft power of career diplomats and seasoned politicians. Such is the case of Joshua Cheptegei and Ivana Vuleta.

Love is in the air as accomplished sons and daughters represent their nations at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Budapest.

Cheptegei achieved a remarkable feat by capturing his third consecutive gold medal, completing the demanding race in a great time of 27:51.42. His exceptional performance outshone his closest competitor, Kenya's Daniel Ebenyo, who clinched second place at 27:52.60.

The stunning performance caught the eye of Serbian president H.E Aleksandar Vučić who extended warm congratulations to Uganda through his counterpart Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Museveni shared the letter from his Serbia counterpart. X.com

"I thank the President of Serbia, H.E Aleksandar Vučić for the warm congratulatory message I received on the victory of Joshua Cheptegei, for winning his third consecutive 10000m world title," Museveni stated in a post on X.com(Twitter).

Joshua Cheptegei celebrates after winning gold in men’s 10 000m final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest | Photo Credit: IMAGO / Bildbyran

"President Vučić congratulated us directly from the stadium in Budapest, Hungary, where he witnessed Cheptegei’s win," he added.

As they say one good turn deserves another, Museveni also congratulated Serbia's Ivana Vuleta upon winning gold in the women's long jump.

Ivana Vuleta spreads her gold triumph at the 2023 World Athletics Championships women's long jump. Reuters

Vuleta soared a personal-best 7.14 metres, top in the world this season, on her fifth of six jumps to secure the victory.

She previously won bronze at both the 2013 and 2015 worlds and at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where her medal was Serbia's first in athletics at the Games.

Museveni recently led a delegation to Serbia to explore bilateral trade opportunities. Surely, the relationship is blossoming!

Tags: