The 4th Dr Mrs NkechI Ikpeazu Para-Badminton Championship climaxed on the 7th February 2022 with Team Abia coming top on the overall medal table with three gold medals, three Silvers and three bronzes.
Ijeoma gift Chukwuemeka won gold in the Wheelchair 2 female category, Okoro Chinyere, gold medal in the Standing Lower 4 female category and Abia born Africa number 1 Sunday EzeChukwuebuka came first in the Standing lower 3 male categories.
The duo of Ezechukwuebuka and Okoro Chinyere picked the silver medal in the mixed double SL category.
Likewise, Meribel Peter Okpulor in the wheelchair 1 male category.
Ifeanacho Ohaeri Emmanuel the team captain was awarded a bronze medal in the wheelchair 2 male categories alongside Obinna Nwosu and Odinakachi of Team Abia in the Standing lower category.
Neighboring state Imo picked up three gold medals in the mixed double wheelchair category and the standing upper female category. Four silvers in the wheelchair 2 female categories, standing lower 3 female categories, wheelchair 2 male categories and the standing upper 5 male categories.
A bronze in the mixed doubles wheelchair category, mixed double standing lower female category and the standing upper 5 female categories.
Team Kwara got two gold medals in the mixed double standing lower category through Jeremiah and Eniola Bolaji, while Jeremiah also picked up the gold medal in the standing lower 4 cacategories.
The 4th De Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu Para-Badminton championship had athletes from Abia, Anambra Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau and Rivers state.
Coach Ngozi Philip of Team Abia thanked the wife of the Executive Governor of Abia state for hosting the tournament, stating that her athletes met her expectations and that she is now looking forward to the Para sports festival in Abuja which will hold in two months.
Ekeoma Onukwe Samuel the national coordinator oNeighbouringbadminton federation of Nigeria, earlier in his speech called on well-meaning Abians to support the wife of the governor in promoting Para-badminton in Nigeria and Para-athletics in general.
The high points of the event were the presentation of medals and Certificate of participation by the Commissioner of Sports, Chief Karibe Ojigwe, Acting Director of Sports, Christian Ejinwa, Members of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria and staff of the Abia state ministry of sports.
The event was attended by the wife of the governor of Abia state Dr Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, wife of the Deputy Governor of Abia state, Lady Vivian Ude Okochukwu, Head of the service, Abia state, Sir, Onyii Wamah, various Commissioners and other government functionaries.
