Several Nigerian players, including Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji, have qualified for the finals of the ongoing Africa Para Badminton Championships taking place on Sunday in Umuahia, Abia State.
Bolaji, ranked second globally in the SL3 category by the Para World Badminton Federation, defeated Cameroon’s Danyele Mouafo 2-0 (21-4, 21-0) in the women’s singles SL3 semi-finals held on Saturday.
Also, Bolaji and Chigozie Nnanna won their match against Prince Mamvumvu-Kidila (Congo DR) and Makeu Mouafo (Cameroon) 2-0 (21-14, 21-8) in the mixed doubles SL/SU5 event.
Both Bolaji and Nnanna had earlier won gold medals in their respective categories at the just-concluded First Abia Para Badminton International, held between September 30 and October 5 at the same venue.
Nnanna, who is ranked first in Africa in the SL4 class, also triumphed over Kenya’s Benson Mutiso 2-0 (21-5, 21-13) in the men’s singles SL4 category.
Similarly, Nigeria’s James Akpan defeated Etienne Bidjoka of Cameroon 2-0 (21-5, 21-5) in the men’s singles SL4, while Ifeanacho Ohaeri beat fellow Nigerian Okechukwu Ibeabuchi 2-0 (21-8, 21-8) in the men’s singles wheelchair 2 event.
Chukwuemeka Eze, Chinyere Okoro, and Gift Chukwuemeka are among the Nigerians who have qualified for the finals to be decided on Sunday.
In other semi-final matches, Egypt’s Shaimaa Abdellatif defeated Irene Nkwa of Cameroon 2-0 (21-12, 21-17) in the women’s singles wheelchair 2 category, among other results.
Over 150 athletes from 12 countries, including Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo DR, Egypt, Mauritius, Mozambique, the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, Rwanda, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, and host Nigeria, are competing in 19 events.
