Brazil led in the medal table at the just-concluded first Abia Para Badminton International Championship with seven gold, three sliver and 5 bronze medals.
India came second on the table with six gold, five sliver and 14 bronze medals. Peru clinched the third position with six gold, three silver and nine bronze, while Nigeria finished fourth with 3 gold, four silver and two bronze medals.
Speaking in Umouahiaon Sunday during the closing ceremony of the championship at the International Conference Centre Umuahia the Abia State capital, Governor Alex Otti, said the state hosted the competition in line with its mantra of inclusion and providing a level playing ground for people to achieve their goals despite their physical challenges.
He commended the athletes for participating in competition and encouraging those who did win any medal to stay course, as could win medals in future championships.
The governor who granted the request of officials of the championship to make Para Badminton championship an annual event, announced a cash reward equivalent of Fifty thousand dollars for the fourteen countries that participated in the competition.
He said, “That you participated is good enough. If you did not win any medals today, be sure you can win tomorrow. Once you stay the course.
“I want to congratulate those that won awards and medals in this competition the first of this kind, I’m told, in Nigeria and West Africa. I want to congratulate you wholeheartedly. For us in Abia State, our mantra is inclusion.
That’s one of the reasons why we offered to host you. And if you are anywhere and you don’t pay attention to inclusion, then you are not getting it right. We want to demonstrate that no matter your situation, no matter where you find yourself, that you are a compatriot who could have been luckier to have all his parts intact”.
And for us in leadership, we have no excuse not to provide opportunities for people who are born with one little problem or challenge or another. Some of them were born with disability, while some people lost their limbs during accidents.
The chairman of our disability commission lost his two hands in Liberia during the civil war. But he rose from the ashes of that. And today, he is doing well in this state.
“So I have gone this far to explain to you our attitude to people living with disabilities in our state. Even our public transport system that we are just putting together, we have to pay extra to provide for those who are in wheelchairs. So that they can have the same comfort that people who are able also have”.
The Commissioner for sports in the state Mr NwaobilorAnanaba, said it was the governor’s vision and unwaring support that made the championship possible.
He commended all the athletes, team managers, technical officials and representatives of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA) and Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for inputs towards the successful completion of the 1st Abia Para Badminton International Championship.
In their separate remarks the President Badminton Federation of Nigeria Mr Francis Orbih, The Chief Executive Officer Badminton Federation of Africa Mr Jeff shigoli, lauded Otti for his warmth, generosity and support in hosting the championship.
The gold medals winner for men’s singles SL4 Mr Jeremiah Nnanna, expressed excitement for his performance and promised that he would strive to maintain the record by winning more gold medals for the country.
He said, “I feel excited to win a gold medal in my singles category.
The governor just approved that this championship will be an annual tournament. So, I’m going for the gold medal in the next championship”.
0 Comments