By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Eniola Mariam, Nigeria’s sensational para badminton player who recently qualified for Paris paralympics coming up later in the year, has again made history by winning three gold medals at the just concluded first Egypt TV Para Badminton International tournament held in Cairo.
Over 28 countries across the World participated at the championship, described as the greatest outing for six Nigerian athletes comprising three male and three female led by the female national para badminton assistant coach, Ngozi Duru Phillip, that participated in the tournament.
Eniola won gold medals in the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. She beat Adriane Spinetti Avila of Brazil 2-0 (21-5, 21-6) to emerge Champion of the Women’s Singles, SL3.
The duo of Eniola Bolaji and Chigozie Jeremiah defeated Jagadesh Dilli (India) and Rosa Efomo De Marco (Italy) 2-0 (21-7, 21-10) in the Mixed Doubles SL3 event.
In the Women’s Doubles Finals, SL3-SU5, Nigeria’s pair of Bolaji Mariam Eniola/Chinyere Okoro won gold against Rosa Efomo De Marco (Italy)/Diana Lizeth Leon (Colombia) 21-19, 16-21, 21-13
In the other events, Nigeria’s gold medal men’s singles SL4 hopeful, Nnanna Chigozie Jeremiah lost narrowly to Marcel Adam (Germany) after a tough one 21-19, 13-21, 21-15 where Nigeria settled for silver medal.
In Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 semi final, Eze Chukwuebuka Sunday/Chinyere Oko lost to Jagadesh Dilli (India)/Rosa Efomo De Marco (Italy) 7-21, 5-21 to settle for bronze.
In the Men’s Doubles SL3 & SL4, Nigerian pair of Nnanna Chigozie Jeremiah/ Eze Chukwuebuka Sunday lost to Jagadesh Dilli/Subhrajeet Maharana (India) 21-17, 16-21, 17-21 while in the Women’s singles WH2, Nigeria’s Chukwuemeka Gift Ijeoma lost to the Egyptian Shaimaa Samy Abdellatif (Egypt) 17- 21, 12-21 to all settle for bronze medals.
In all Nigeria won three gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
In his reaction to Nigeria’s successful outing at the tournament, President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, who was ecstatic, hailed the young athletes whose dedication, resilience and determination to succeed opened the doors to the great achievement.
While thanking the young athletes for a job well done, Orbih also reiterated the resolve of the Federation under his leadership to support the growth of upcoming Athletes with a view to eventually fully regaining Nigeria’s lost glory in Badminton on the continent and beyond.
