NAN-S-8
Para-badminton
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos. Jan.16, 2017 (NAN) Samuel Ekeoma, President, Nigeria Para-Badminton Federation, on Monday said the body would intensify its effort to ensure that more physically challenged persons embraced the sport this year.
Ekeoma told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that for now only 13 of Nigeria’s 36 states and Federal Capital Territory had embraced para-badminton for the good of their physically challenged athletes.
He said that there was need for concerted efforts to spread it to the other states for it to gain the needed popularity in the country.
“Para-badminton is relatively new in Nigeria and our mission this year is to ensure that more physically challenged people participate in the sport.
“We will do everything possible to organise competitions this year to spread the sport and identity talent that could represent the country in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“The earlier we start the better for us because 2020 is just around the corner,’’ he said.
On plans to participate in international competitions which serve as prerequisite for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Ekeoma told NAN that availability of funds would ensure the country’s participation in such competitions.
He, however, appealed to the government and private bodies to support its athletes to participate in international competitions.
“At the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nigeria won 13 medals; but if Para-badminton is included, we can increase the country’s medals haul in 2020.
“The list and names of competitions that athletes are suppose to participate in to qualify for the Games are already out and I hope we will not miss any,’’ he said. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)