Nigeria wins nine gold at Uganda Para-Badminton Championship
Team Nigeria secured an impressive haul of nine gold and five silver medals at the 2026 Uganda Para-Badminton International Championship.
Team Nigeria delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Uganda Para-Badminton International Championship, held from 7 to 12 July, returning home with a total of 14 medals comprising nine gold and five silver. The achievement further cemented Nigeria’s growing reputation as one of Africa’s dominant forces in para-badminton.
Lyka Brown led the charge, clinching gold in the WH1 Women’s Singles before teaming up with Chukwuemeka Ijeoma Gift to secure another gold in the WH1 & WH2 Women’s Doubles. Chukwuemeka also triumphed in the WH2 Women’s Singles, adding a third gold medal to Nigeria’s tally. In the men’s wheelchair events, Emmanuel Ifeanacho Ohaeri won gold in the WH2 Men’s Singles and partnered with Brown to capture gold in the WH1 & WH2 Mixed Doubles.
Nigeria’s dominance extended to the standing categories. Obinna Precious Nwosu won gold in the SL3 Men’s Singles, while Nnanna Jeremiah Chigozie captured gold in the SL4 Men’s Singles before teaming up with Eze Sunday Chukwuebuka to win gold in the SL3 & SU5 Men’s Doubles. In the SU5 category, Eneojo Elijah Agada claimed gold in the singles event and later partnered with Nwosu to win silver in the SL3–SU5 Men’s Doubles.
Reacting to the team’s performance, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, praised the athletes for flying the nation’s flag high. “The para-badminton athletes have once again shown that the country can depend on them in terms of winning medals and making the country proud,” Orbih said. “Our target is the Paralympic Games. We want to qualify as many athletes as possible with the aim of making a huge mark following the exploits of Eniola Bolaji.”
Orbih also expressed appreciation to sponsors, including the Abia State Government for sponsoring six players, the Bayelsa State Government, and the Police College Badminton Club, Lagos.
The winners: Nigerian para-badminton athletes, who have demonstrated excellence on the continental stage; the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, which has built a winning programme; and the Abia and Bayelsa state governments, which invested in the team. The losers: the Federal Government, which has not matched the support provided by sub-national governments.
Bottom Line: Nine gold medals in Uganda. A team that keeps winning. The question is whether the government will give para-sports the support it deserves.