The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar at the weekend visited and trained with Nigeria Badminton players who are preparing for the 9th edition of the Uganda International Badminton tournament.
It is scheduled to hold from 20th-23rd of February in Lugogo Indoor stadium, Uganda.
The IG who is a former national badminton player as well as an ex-board member of Nigeria Football Association, NFA, promised to continue to support the players so that they can gain enough points that will qualify them for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
“If we engage the youths especially through sports, we have done one great thing, which is taking them away from the streets and is a very good factor in creating better leaders of tomorrow”
Also on Sunday, Abuja badminton club donated a set of jersey and badminton equipment to the national team ahead of the Ugandan tournament. The chairman Abuja badminton club, Abubakar Isa said it is their way of supporting the Nigeria Badminton Federation, NBF.
“We are trying to promote badminton in Nigeria and we feel we should start with the national team.” Isa added.
President of NBF, Justice Danlami Senchi who was on hand to receive the donations, thanked the donors especially the IG for helping to promote badminton in Nigeria and assured that Nigeria will qualify for 2016 Olympics.
“We want to thank the IG as well as the Abuja badminton club for their support; we hope we’ll also get the support of the sports ministry. Our aim is to gain enough points that will help our players qualify for the Olympics.” Senchi concluded.
National badminton captain Olaoluwa Fagbemi said the team hopes to win at least four gold medals in Uganda.
Organizers say 16 teams have confirmed participation in the championship, that will see 64 players taking part in different categories. Uganda(host), Nigeria, Namibia, Libya, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya and Mauritius while Austria, Malaysia, Slovakia, Israel, and Syrilanka are among the international countries to feature in competition.
