KAMPALA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Two Ugandan athletes have qualified for the 2018 Youth Olympics taking place in October in Buenos Aires, Argentina later this year.

Elijah Njawuzi, a Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) administrator told Xinhua on Thursday that track and field athlete Sarah Chelangat and swimmer Rebecca Ssengozi have gained direct qualification for the Games.

"Chelangat qualified after winning a silver medal in the 3,000m final at the ongoing Africa Youth Games in Algeria, while Ssengozi hit the qualifying mark in the 50m butterfly, where she won a bronze medal," said Njawuzi.

He said Uganda is optimistic that more athletes in track and field, rowing and weightlifting will qualify, while others could be given wildcards by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Youth Olympic Games is an international multi-sport event for athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 and is organized by the IOC. The Games are held every four years and the last one was held in 2014 in China.