Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) president, Francis Orbih has showered encomiums on the country’s physically challenged contingent, after the team returned home with 14 medals from a high profile international competiition in Uganda, Sports247 reports.
Orbih admitted he was delighted with the team’s performance at tht 2026 Para-Badminton International Championship, which ended on Sunday, with Nigeria clinching nine gold and five silver medals, which he reckoned butressed the country’s growing status in Africa.
Lyka Brown claimed gold in WH1 women’s singles, while Chukwuemeka Ijeoma Gift won the WH2 women’s singles, following which they both partnered to get another gold medal in the WH1/WH2 women’s doubles.
In male wheelchair events, Emmanuel Ifeanacho Ohaeri won gold in WH2 singles and teamed up with Lyka Brown to grab gold in WH1/WH2 mixed doubles, then partnered Ekeoma Samuel to gain silver in the WH1 & WH2 men’s doubles.
Ekeoma Samuel also won silver in WH1 men’s singles and joined Gift to win another silver medal in the WH1/WH2 mixed doubles, while Obinna Precious Nwosu won gold in the SL3 men’s singles’ standing category, as Eze Sunday Chukwuebuka secured silver in the same event.
Nnanna Jeremiah Chigozie captured gold in the SL4 men’s singles and won the SL3 & SU5 men’s doubles with Eze Sunday Chukwuebuka, while Eneojo Elijah Agada claimed gold in the singles event’s SU5 category, then joined Obinna Precious Nwosu to win silver in SL3–SU5 men’s doubles.
Orbih praised all the players for their performances, which he pointed out further boosted Nigeria’s profile in Africa’s para-badminton sector, while also noting that it serves as motivation for more success to come in future continental and global competitions.
“The para-badminton athletes have once again shown that the country can depend on them in terms of winning medals and making Nigerians proud. This current board will continue to support the para-athletes and ensure they get all the necessary support.
“Our target is the Paralympic Games and we want to qualify as many athletes as possible. I also want to thank Abia State Government for sponsoring six players, and Bayelsa State Government as well as Police College Badminton Club Lagos for footing the bills of one player each.”
