UMUAHIA – Samuel Ekeoma, coordinator of the two-day maiden South-East Para-badminton Championship, on Monday said that preparations were on to ensure a hitch-free competition for participants.
Ekeoma told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the championship would hold from Nov. 11 to Nov. 12 at the Umuahia Indoor Township Stadium, Abia.
He said that Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra and the host, Abia would feature in the event which was the first of its kind in the country.
“We have concluded arrangements to stage the first para-badminton competition in the country and everything is already in place to make sure that the event runs smoothly,’’ he said.
According to him, the competition, which is sponsored by Mostly Global Partner NGO, will be extended to other geo-political zones in the country to develop the sport.
He said that the sport had been included in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan and there was the need to produce a formidable team that would represent the country.
“We intend to take this sport to the other zones in the country to promote and also make it a super sport like para-powerlifting.
“If we start working now, before six years I strongly believe we will produce a formidable team that can represent us in the 2020 Paralympics and other international tournaments.
“And by doing so, more physically challenged persons would be taken off the streets,’’ Ekeoma said. (NAN)
