Nigeria won a total of 13 medals at the just-concluded All Africa Para-Badminton Championship held at the MTN Arena, Lugogo stadium, Kampala, Uganda.
The athletes won eight gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
Nnanna Chigozie and Eniola Bolaji won three gold medals respectively to replicate their performance at the Uganda International Para-Badminton Championship held at the same venue last week.
The duo edged Mohammed Ismail and Martha Cheve 21-8, 21-5(2-0) to clinch gold in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5.
In the women’s doubles SL3-SU5 final, Eniola paired Okoro Chiyere to beat the Ugandan pair of Sumini Mutesi and Rose Nansereko in two straight sets, 21-5, 21-8.
Eniola also defeated Uganda’s Elizabeth Mwesigwa in two straight sets (21-9, 21-4) in the women’s singles SL3, while Chinyere Okoro beat Morenike Oloutou of Benin Republic 21-11, 19-21, 21-16 (2-1) in the final of the women’s singles SL4+SU5.
Chigozie emerged winner in the men’s singles SL4 final after he defeated Uganda’s Hassan Muniru in two straight sets 21-14, 21-5.
Also, Olanipekun and Akpan James won another gold for Nigeria in the men’s doubles SL3-SL4, beating Muniru and David Mukisa 21-9, 21-9.
In the women’s singles WH2 final, Ijeoma Gift lost 21-14, 21-10 to Shaimaa Abdelatif from Egypt, while it was an all Nigerian affair in the SL3 men’s singles final as Chukwuebuka Eze defeated Olanipekun 21-19, 14-21, 21-17.
Chigozie and Bolaji also won gold in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5, with Okoro Chinyere also clinching gold in the women’s singles SL4+SU5 combine.
In the men’s SL3-SL4 doubles, Olanipekun and Eze won gold for Nigeria. Eze also paired with Chigozie to pick gold in the SU5 men’s doubles.
In other results, Gift Ijeoma won silver in the women’s singles WH2, just as Ohaeri Emmanuel in the men’s singles WH2.
In the mixed doubles WH1-2, Emmanuel and Sylvia Nakenda won bronze.
Speaking on the success recorded by the Nigerian team, President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, praised the Federal Government for the support given to the federation, which he said enabled the country’s contingent to participate in both the international and continental tournaments.
“The federation is determined to ensure that Nigeria continues to present quality representation at all competitions,” Orbih said.
Punch
