Nigeria wins 3 gold, other medals as int’l para badminton championship ends in Abia

…Brazil packs 7 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze to travel 1st

By Steve Oko

Nigeria won a full of 3 gold, 4 metallic and 9 bronze medals arsenic the International Para Badminton Championship ended Sunday successful Umuahia, Abia State capital.

Abia’s Jeremiah Nnanna won a golden medal portion Nigeria’s Paralympic bronze medallist, Eniola Bolaji, besides won a golden medal successful the women’s singles SL3, defeating Cameroon’s Danyele Mouafo.

Similarly, different Nigerian, Mary Nathan, clinched a golden medal for Nigeria against Brazil’s Juscileia Silva successful women’s singles WH1.

Brazil topped the medal array with 7 gold, 3 metallic and 5 bronze.

India clinched the 2nd presumption with six gold, 5 metallic and 14 bronze, portion Peru came 3rd with six gold, 3 metallic and 2 bronze medals.

A full of 114 players from 13 nations participated successful 19 events successful the historical tournament, the precise archetypal to beryllium hosted connected West African soil.

Speaking astatine the closing ceremonial of the planetary tourney and flag-off of the All-African Para Badminton Championships astatine the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Governor Otti approved the petition that the lawsuit beryllium hosted again successful Abia adjacent year.

The approval, according to him, further demonstrates however passionate his medication is astir issues of inclusion of physically challenged persons.

“For america successful Abia, our mantra is inclusion and that’s 1 of the reasons we connection to big you.

“And for america successful leadership, we person nary excuse not to supply opportunities for radical who are calved with 1 small occupation oregon situation oregon another.

“Even our nationalist transport strategy which we are conscionable putting together, we person to wage other to supply for those who are successful wheelchairs truthful that they tin person the aforesaid comfortableness that capable radical besides have,” Otti said.

The politician announced currency grant of $50,000 to each 144 athletes from 13 countries that featured successful the competition.

Speaking also, the Chief Executive Officer and typical of the Badminton World Federation, Mr Jeff Shingoli, said that Abia State and Nigeria person shown committedness by hosting the world.

“Abia State and so Nigeria person shown outstanding committedness by welcoming the world’s champion and of course, Africa’s best.

“This situation has been created to guarantee the dreams of our para badminton athletes thrive.”

He commended the Governor, the section organisers and the section big Badminton Federation of Nigeria for the occurrence of the tournament.

“We person started a travel not lone for gathering champions connected the tribunal but besides champions of life,” Shingoli said.

Earlier successful his address, the President Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Mr Francis Orbih thanked Governor Otti for sponsoring the competition.

He congratulated the athletes and advised them “to transportation guardant the tone of unity and excellence that has followed the competition”.

Orbih besides commended the partners for their partnership, which helium said had further enhanced the tournament’s prestige.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, stated that Gov. Otti’s imaginativeness and unwavering s...