NAN-S-9
Para-Badminton
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Jan. 16, 2018 (NAN) The Nigeria Para-Badminton Federation (NPBF) on Tuesday begged for Government and Corporate support to ensure the country’s participation in the upcoming Uganda International Para-Badminton Championships and the Africa Badminton Championships.
The federation’s Coordinator, Samuel Ekeoma, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Uganda International Championships would hold from April 23 to April 29.
The Africa Championships will also commence on April 30 to May 5 in Uganda.
Ekeoma said that both competitions would go a long way to impact positively on participants and prepare them adequately for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Games.
“We need every form of support we can get to ensure that the country is well represented in these upcoming championships.
“We have been reaching out to corporate bodies and individuals since the last quarter of 2017 but we have yet to get any positive response.
“We hope the government and well-meaning Nigerians will support our athletes to fly the country’s flag high,’’ he said.
NAN reports that three athletes represented the country in the maiden edition of the Uganda International Championship in 2017.
Nigeria’s Bello Oyebanji won two bronze medals in the male’s singles SL3 and the double categories at the maiden event.
NAN reports that Oyebanji is currently ranked number one in Africa. (NAN)
KOA/ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara//Peter Ejiofor)