Over 150 athletes from 13 countries are slated to compete for laurels in different categories at the First Abia Para Badminton International and All African Para Badminton Championships.

The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development,Nwaobilor Ananaba, disclosed this at a news conference in Umuahia on Sunday.

Mr Ananaba, represented by the Special Assistant to Abia Governor on Sports, Raymond Ukwa, confirmed the state’s readiness for the two events that would hold simultaneously.

He said that the first event would hold between September 30 and October 5, while the second, the All African Para Badminton Championship, would commence on October 6 and end on October 12.

Mr Ananaba said that the state had for the  past few months, been preparing  to host the two critical events at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

He said, “How are we prepared as a state? In Abia today, we have the best playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, the first of its kind in West Africa, so to say. When you’re able to go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable playing field, and of course that is also world class.”

Abia earlier hosted the 5th National Para Badminton Championship between July 14 and July 17 at the same venue.

Also speaking, a member of the Local Organising Committee and National Coordinator, Para Badminton Association of Nigeria, Samuel Ekeoma, said that the athletes would be competing in six categories for males and females.

Mr Ekeoma, who doubles as the Second Vice President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), listed Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Tunisa, Rwanda, Cameroun and Zimbabwe among the participating nations.

In a remark, the President of BFN,  Francis Orbih, lauded Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for the commitment and huge investment to ensure successful historic events.

Mr Orbih said that in addition to the two events, the state was also hosting a Para Badminton workshop for coaches and players from African countries.

He said that participants would be assessed, adding that those who scaled through the assessment would be given certificates having gone through the workshop.

“So it’s a very major development for us as a country because what it means is that after this we are going to have more competent and well-equipped coaches for Para Badminton,” Mr Orbih said.

The CEO of Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA), Jeff Shigoli, expressed satisfaction at the level of preparation by the state government.

He said that Nigeria was debuting as the third African country to host para activities, after Uganda and Egypt.

Mr Shigoli thanked the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for giving much support to ensure that the two tournaments were successful.

He stated, “We have members of the classifier team from the BWF that have been sent specifically to ensure players have been classified to be able to compete for these championships.”

A member of BWF, Dr Ahmed Reda, remarked that Nigeria, as a host, had over 40 players that were being classified.

“These players are qualified and are able to participate in these two events, and going forward, they will be able to participate in any international anywhere in the world,” he said.

(NAN)