Abia State Commissioner for Sports and Social Development, Nwaobilor Nwadinma Ananaba, has said that his state is poised to give players and officials from across the world the best para badminton experience at the twin championships billed for Umuahia.
The state is set to host the maiden Abia Para Badminton International Tournament and the All-African Para Badminton Championships, in collaboration with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA), from September 30 to October 12, at the newly refurbished International Conference Centre in Umuahia.
Excited by the prospect of hosting the world’s best stars in Umuahia, Ananaba said: “With the level of preparation and the number of countries registered, I expect these historic championships to attract hundreds of sports officials, stakeholders, and over 374 athletes from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. It will be a celebration of global friendship and inclusiveness.”
He said that the International Conference Centre has been upgraded to meet international standards, with several pre-event activities already held to test the venue and build momentum.
These include the Fifth Abia National Open Para Badminton Championship, which served as a test run for the facility.
To ensure smooth logistics, the commissioner highlighted arrangements for the transfer of teams and athletes from Lagos.
“We’ve secured comfortable hotel accommodations and an efficient transportation system. Our protocol team is stationed in Lagos to assist international athletes with local flights to Owerri, from where wheelchair-accessible buses will transport them to Umuahia.”
