By Dan Onwuegbuna

The 4th edition of the South-East Badminton Championship has begun at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu — but beyond the rallies and smashes, the tournament reflects the personal mission of one woman: former Olympian, Mrs. Obiageli Edoga Solaja.

Solaja, the South-East representative on the board of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), is the driving force behind the championship.

 For her, the three-day event featuring players from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states is more than a competition; it is a deliberate effort to revive a sport she fears is fading in the region that once nurtured her.

A product of Queens School, Enugu — where she was discovered in Form 3 and began her rise to the national team — Solaja went on to represent Nigeria at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics before retiring from competitive play. Returning home years later, she said she was shocked by what she found.

“By the time I came back, I discovered that badminton was almost dead in the South-East,” she told journalists. “Having achieved so much, I felt it was time to discover more Obys, more talents, and nurture already discovered talents.”

That realisation, she said, birthed her “pet project”: the South-East Badminton Championship. The goal is simple but ambitious — to expose, develop and elevate young badminton players across the region.

“We are starting the 4th edition of the South-East Badminton Championship in Enugu for the five South-East states from Thursday, 20th to Saturday, 22nd November, 2025,” she explained. “We have had three editions before — two in Enugu and one in Imo — and this one makes it the third in Enugu State.”

Solaja believes that without consistent competitions, budding talent will continue to wither. Her tournament therefore fills a gap she considers critical: regular, structured, competitive play for men, women and veterans.

The championship, holding at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, runs from November 20 to 22. But for Solaja, its impact is intended to last much longer — by rebuilding a badminton culture in the South-East and inspiring the next generation to follow the path she once walked.

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Enugu is set to host the fourth edition of the Southeast Zonal Badminton Championship, scheduled to take place from November 20th to 22nd at the Indoor Gymnasium Sports Hall, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

The championship is organised by the Southeast Badminton Outreach, in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and the Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, and proudly powered by the Bet9ja Foundation.

The championship will feature top talents from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States, with players, coaches, and officials competing across the male, female, and veteran categories. Participants will showcase exciting skills and compete for honours in what promises to be a thrilling three-day event.

This year’s edition will also serve as an important preparatory platform for assessing the mental and competitive readiness of athletes ahead of the upcoming National Sports Festival to be hosted in Enugu.

Speaking ahead of the event, 1996 Olympian and Southeast Zonal Representative on the Board of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Mrs. Oby Edoga-Solaja, reaffirmed the tournament’s core objective: discovering, developing, and nurturing the next generation of badminton talent within the zone.

She also called on corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to continually support the sport through both financial and moral contributions.

Mrs. Solaja further disclosed that ongoing efforts are being made across the zone to provide essential equipment, coaching education, and umpire training, all geared toward enhancing the standard and growth of badminton in the Southeast.

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Team Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in African para badminton, emerging overall champions at the Africa Para Badminton Championships 2025, which concluded on Sunday at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.

The hosts were in a class of their own, sweeping an impressive 36 medals — including 10 gold, 13 silver, and 13 bronze — to finish far ahead of other participating nations.

Kenya’s National Olympic Committee secured second place with 11 medals (four gold, two silver, and five bronze), while Egypt rounded off the top three with eight medals (three gold, one silver, and four bronze).

The Republic of Benin followed in fourth with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, and the Democratic Republic of Congo placed fifth with one gold and two bronze. Tunisia came sixth with one silver and one bronze, while Cameroon claimed seven place after collecting six bronze medals.

Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and Rwanda each won two bronze medals to complete the top 10, while Mauritius earned one bronze medal. Only Mozambique finished without a medal among the 12 participating countries that featured in 19 events during the week-long championship, which began on October 7.

Nigeria’s gold medalists included several standout performers: Eniola Bolaji, Africa’s undisputed queen of para badminton; Chigozie Nnanna, Chukwuemeka Eze, Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, Mary Nathan, Chinyere Okoro, Munkwoba Goman, and Bello Tukur.

Notably, Bolaji, Nnanna, and Nathan had also captured gold at the First Abia Para Badminton International held at the same venue a week earlier, from September 30 to October 5, underscoring their consistency and dominance.

Nigeria’s silver medalists included Odinachi Uwalaka, Obinna Nwosu, Ifeanacho Ohaeri, Ebikoboere Brown, Abel David, James Akpan, and Nendimwa Monday, among others.

At the colourful closing ceremony, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State hailed the athletes for their courage, skill, and sportsmanship. Represented by Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, Otti praised the event as a landmark achievement for Nigeria and the continent.

“We have learned, improved, and been inspired. And let me assure you — Abia will bid to host again, and when we do, we will offer an experience that will far surpass this pioneering effort,” he said.

Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), lauded the para athletes for embodying the spirit of resilience and human dignity through their performances.

“Our para athletes have shown that sport is a powerful expression of ability, resilience, and human dignity,” Orbih said, extending appreciation to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) for their support and guidance.

Orbih also commended the Abia State Government for providing a world-class venue and a welcoming atmosphere that fostered friendship and unity among participants.

The Africa Para Badminton Championships 2025 not only crowned Nigeria as continental champions but also showcased the nation’s capacity to host international sporting events of the highest standard — a milestone that officials say will serve as a springboard for future competitions on African soil.

MEDAL TABLE

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