13 countries do battle as Para Badminton championship begins in Abia
13 countries do battle as Para Badminton championship begins in Abia
The First Abia Para Badminton International Championship kicked off on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia, with 114 athletes from 13 countries competing for laurels.
The countries including Brazil, India, Peru, Egypt, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Congo DR, Mauritius, Mozambique and the host, Nigeria, are competing in 19 sporting events.
Declaring the championship open, the Deputy Governor of Abia, Ikechukwu Emetu, said that the state was privileged to host para badminton athletes from across Africa and beyond.
“This is happening for the first time.”
He said that it was not just a competition, but a celebration of resilience, unity and the unbreakable human spirit.
Emetu, who is the Chairman, Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the championship, said that hosting the event was a sign that the state was not only open to the world, but also ready to lead Africa’s inclusive sports development.
He commended the Gov. Alex Otti, for his visionary leadership and unwavering support in hosting the tournament.
“To our athletes, you are the heart of this championship. Compete with pride, play fair, and let your performance inspire all of us.
“You carry with you the hopes of your nations, but beyond that, you embody the spirit of humanity’s resilience,” Emetu said.
In a remark, the President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, lauded the governor for his commitment and huge investment to ensure a successful historic championship.
He thanked the state for hosting the first para badminton tournament in West Africa.
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“So much has been done; so much has been invested and you cannot imagine the amount of planning and detailing that have gone into this, for us to be able to have this,” he said.
Also, Jeff Shigoli, the Chief Executive Officer of Badminton Confederation of Africa, expressed satisfaction over the level of preparation by the state government.
Shigoli, who commended the Badminton World Federation for lending support to the country, said that Nigeria was debuting as the third African country to host para activities, after Uganda and Egypt.
The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) reports that the championship which started Sept. 30, will end on Oct. 5.
It will be followed by the All African Para Badminton Championship scheduled to begin on Oct. 7 and end on Oct. 12, at the same venue.
