Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has sponsored three players to the World Para-Badminton Championships 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand from 19th to 25th February, www.aclsports.com reports.
The team departed through the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport on Sunday (18th February) and will arrive at the venue of the championship on Monday.
The National Coordinator of Nigeria Parabadminton, Samuel Ekeoma hailed Governor Alex Otti for his immense contribution in sponsoring Abia state athletes to various para badminton championships.
Ekeoma applauded the Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh and the President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih for their support in ensuring the athletes compete at the various Paralympic qualifiers.
He said, “I hope the Nigeria para badminton team will be in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games for the first time in the history of Nigeria and the Paralympic Games”.
Meanwhile, multiple African champion, Eniola Bolaji will be seeking to create an upset at the World Championships.
Bolaji told www.aclsports.com that the tournament will afford her the opportunity of playing against some of the best players in the world.
She said, “I am putting this tournament in God’s hands. I was at the Egypt International Championship and played against some highly ranked players in the world. The World Championship in Thailand is another great opportunity for me to play against some highly ranked players I have been watching on social media”.
African champion, Eniola Bolaji; Chinyere Okoro, Jeremiah Chigozie and Ezechukwu Ebuka will represent Nigeria at the World Championship
The tournament will be the final opportunity for athletes to accumulate qualification points to participate in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
At least 380 para-badminton players from 55 countries are expected to take part, backed by some 140 coaches. Around 200 tournament management officials, organisers and committee members will be involved in staging the event.
Good one,
This is amazing. The Abia Governor has really done well sponsoring these players and officials in their several international tournaments within months in office. For me is part of human capacity development for PWDs in Abia which has uplifted the image of Nigeria through Sports. I wish other Governors should emulate the Abia developmental utility Governor. I wish the Nigerian Team all the best.