National Disabled Games: Para-Badminton federation appeals for inclusion

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The Para-Badminton federation on Wednesday appealed to the Nigeria Paralympics Committee (NPC) for inclusion in the proposed National Disabled Games billed for Lagos later in the year.

Interim President of the federation Sam Ekeoma told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that Para-Badminton was excluded from the proposed Games in spite the national and zonal competitions it had organised.

NAN reports that the Games Organising Committee met in Lagos and proposed Para-athletics, powerlifting, table-tennis, swimming, amputee football, sitting volleyball, deaf sports and Special Olympics sports for the Games, while excluding para-badminton.

According to Ekeoma, excluding para-badminton from the Games will hinder its development in the country especially as the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) has approved the sport for the 2020 Paralympics.

“Volleyball, swimming, football, Ayo, wheelchair basketball are included in the disabled games but badminton was jettisoned.

“This could have been a preparatory ground for us ahead the qualifiers for the 2020 Paralympics,’’ he said.

He urged the NPC to facilitate the federation’s recognition by officially writing to the Ministry of Sports, the same way it did for other federations that have been recognised.

Ekeoma said that though the NPC had given approval for the federation to carry on with its activities, it had yet to officially write the Ministry of Youth and Sports, for its recognition.

He noted that it was abnormal for the federation to be accorded international recognition before the national body, adding that it was always difficult for them to get assistance from the government due to non-recognition.

“The International Para-Badminton Federation, (the apex body of world Para-Badminton) has recognised Nigeria as a Para-Badminton playing country but Nigeria is yet to recognise its own.

“Paralympics committee has done all the necessary documentation in respect to badminton international; we operated since 2012, but started playing competitions in 2014 after our recognition by the NPC.

“Since then, we have organised two major championships, whereas there are other sports that have not done but they are having government recognition.

“We have a championship to attend in Ireland in June but we can’t go because of lack of sponsorship and this championship is part of preparation for the 2020 Paralympics,’’ Ekeoma said.

He said that about 12 states including Abia, Imo, Delta, Ogun, Plateau, Anambra, Kwara were already playing the game, while Lagos and Kaduna have just started.

Ekeoma who is also the Technical Director of Para Powerlifting Federation added that the sport was fast spreading in the country and as such needed all the support it could get to succeed.

He said para-badminton can fetch Nigeria up to 18 gold medals in International competitions because we have athletes on ground that have been training with able bodied persons in Badminton.

Meanwhile, Monday Emoghavwe, President, Nigeria Paralympics Committee (NPC) has said that Para-Badminton would soon be recognised by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.

“Para-Badminton is a new sport that we are still developing and we are targeting the sports that have national spread for the disabled games.

“When a sport is coming up like this, it still needs to be formerly launched by the Ministry of Youth and Sports; that aspect has not been done yet.

“It is the Paralympics committee that will inform the minister how far the sports have fared in terms of national spread, before the minister will call the board members of the federation for launching.

“It becomes a product of the Sports Ministry as soon as it is formerly launched; we have not done that yet and we are planning to do that but they need to organize a competition where the minister will watch their game and push for a formal inauguration.

“Para-soccer was recognized because it covered more than 27 states of the country. (NAN)

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