Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) president, Francis Orbih has showered encomiums on the country’s physically challenged contingent, after the team returned home with 14 medals from a high profile international competiition in Uganda, Sports247 reports.

Orbih admitted he was delighted with the team’s performance at tht 2026 Para-Badminton International Championship, which ended on Sunday, with Nigeria clinching nine gold and five silver medals, which he reckoned butressed the country’s growing status in Africa.

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Lyka Brown claimed gold in WH1 women’s singles, while Chukwuemeka Ijeoma Gift won the WH2 women’s singles, following which they both partnered to get another gold medal in the WH1/WH2 women’s doubles.

In male wheelchair events, Emmanuel Ifeanacho Ohaeri won gold in WH2 singles and teamed up with Lyka Brown to grab gold in WH1/WH2 mixed doubles, then partnered Ekeoma Samuel to gain silver in the WH1 & WH2 men’s doubles.

Ekeoma Samuel also won silver in WH1 men’s singles and joined Gift to win another silver medal in the WH1/WH2 mixed doubles, while Obinna Precious Nwosu won gold in the SL3 men’s singles’ standing category, as Eze Sunday Chukwuebuka secured silver in the same event.

Nnanna Jeremiah Chigozie captured gold in the SL4 men’s singles and won the SL3 & SU5 men’s doubles with Eze Sunday Chukwuebuka, while Eneojo Elijah Agada claimed gold in the singles event’s SU5 category, then joined Obinna Precious Nwosu to win silver in SL3–SU5 men’s doubles.

Orbih praised all the players for their performances, which he pointed out further boosted Nigeria’s profile in Africa’s para-badminton sector, while also noting that it serves as motivation for more success to come in future continental and global competitions.

“The para-badminton athletes have once again shown that the country can depend on them in terms of winning medals and making Nigerians proud. This current board will continue to support the para-athletes and ensure they get all the necessary support.

“Our target is the Paralympic Games and we want to qualify as many athletes as possible. I also want to thank Abia State Government for sponsoring six players, and Bayelsa State Government as well as Police College Badminton Club Lagos for footing the bills of one player each.”

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Jochelle Alvarez and Clarence Villaflor moved one win away from breakthrough singles titles after booking their spots in the women’s and men’s singles finals of the Philippine National Badminton Open 2026 on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

Alvarez, the UAAP Season 86 co-MVP, outlasted University of the Philippines incoming sophomore and reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Brys Ellewis Fuggan, 21-17, 17-21, 21-10, to reach the singles final of the national tournament for the first time.

The incoming Ateneo de Manila University senior came out strong in the opening game before Fuggan responded in the second to even the match. Alvarez, however, returned to the form that helped her win the opener, dominating the deciding game to clinch a breakthrough finals berth in the tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, Cignal, Yonex, Sunrise, Maynilad, and MWell.

“Siyempre, sobrang happy po ako na nanalo ako, pero sobrang kabado rin since nung sumali po kasi ako sa PBO — second time ko po ito — nung una, doubles pa lang, and ito nga after ng pagkabalik ko. Hindi ko po talaga ine-expect, pero inisip ko lang, one game lang. One game at a time, and hindi ko muna iisipin ‘yung results,” said the Blue Eagles standout.

(c) PBO

In the men’s division, Villaflor advanced to his third consecutive Philippine National Badminton Open final after defeating longtime national team stalwart Ros Pedrosa, 21-15, 22-20, in a gripping 47-minute semifinal.

Fresh off securing qualification for the BWF World Championships, Villaflor controlled the opening game before weathering Pedrosa’s late charge in the second. Despite the veteran repeatedly trimming the deficit, Villaflor held on to complete the straight-games victory and earn another shot at the national crown.

Standing in the way of Alvarez and Villaflor are defending champions Mika De Guzman and Jelo Albo, both seeking to extend their dominance in the tournament.

De Guzman, chasing a record fourth straight women’s singles title, displayed her composure and experience in dispatching juniors national team standout Eve Bejasa, 21-10, 21-17, in just 35 minutes.

Albo, meanwhile, stayed on course for a third consecutive men’s singles championship after bouncing back from a first-game loss to defeat fellow Smash Pilipinas standout JR Pandi, 16-21, 21-11, 21-9, in a match that lasted more than an hour.

“Siguro po na-boost po ‘yung sarili ko since kagagaling lang namin sa Europe. Do’n po ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob. And since makakalaban ko uli si Jelo, araw-araw naman kaming nag-sparring, so gawin lang po namin ‘yung best namin, gawin namin lahat nang makakaya namin, at enjoy lang po ng laro,” said Villaflor, the runner-up in the 2026 AXEL International Badminton Championship.

The men’s and women’s singles finals headline Sunday’s action, which begins at 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, Lea Inlayo and Julius Villabrille remained on track to defend their respective doubles titles.

Inlayo, a former University of the Philippines standout and current Smash Pilipinas veteran, will chase a third women’s doubles championship, this time alongside Jeya Pinlac. The national team pair recovered from a first-game loss to overcome UP’s Krissa and Patricia De Leon, 8-21, 21-4, 21-17, in the semifinals.

Villabrille, meanwhile, will also defend his men’s doubles title, partnering Solomon Padiz Jr. The duo cruised past UP’s Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza, 21-12, 21-10, to advance to the championship match.

Padiz and Villabrille will face Smash Pilipinas teammates Christian Bernardo and Alvin Morada, who dominated De La Salle University’s Rey Nier Dalimo-os and AJ Lorenz Jurada, 21-9, 21-10.

In the women’s doubles final, Inlayo and Pinlac will take on Andrea Hernandez and Mary Destiny Untal, who defeated UP’s Susmita Ramos and Dianne Libaton, 21-11, 23-21.

Villabrille also kept his bid for a second title alive after teaming up with Hernandez to rally past Morada and Pinlac, 15-21, 21-17, 21-9, in the mixed doubles semifinals. They will face Inlayo and Bernardo, who upset top seeds Padiz and Untal, 21-16, 21-14, for the mixed doubles championship.

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The Lugogo Indoor Stadium has once again become a hub of international para sport as Uganda hosts the Uganda Para Badminton International 2026, bringing together elite para badminton players from across Africa in a tournament that is as much about competition as it is about inclusion, resilience and opportunity.

Running from 7–12 July 2026, the championship has attracted athletes from Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Benin and Israel, with players competing across various disability classifications in singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.

Although the tournament was expected to welcome competitors from 26 countries, participation was significantly affected by concerns surrounding the Ebola outbreak. Nevertheless, organisers successfully staged the event with 40 athletes representing five countries, ensuring the championship remained on the international badminton calendar.

Opening the tournament, William Blick, an IOC Member and Uganda sports administrator, praised the resilience shown by the organisers and participants.

He noted that despite the challenges, Uganda had demonstrated its ability to safely host an international sporting event while reinforcing its commitment to inclusive sport.

Blick emphasised that hosting such competitions is vital in increasing participation among persons with disabilities and strengthening inclusive sports policies. He also applauded the International Federation, the Government of Uganda and the national federation for ensuring the event went ahead despite difficult circumstances.

“This shows the world that Uganda is still safe,” he remarked while officially launching the championship at Lugogo.

Beyond the competition itself, the event has also featured an international development course aimed at countries seeking to establish and grow para badminton programmes, further underlining Uganda’s growing role in developing the sport across Africa.

The opening day’s action on Wednesday produced a series of competitive encounters featuring both Ugandan and international athletes.

Uganda enjoyed several encouraging performances, particularly in the mixed doubles and women’s competitions.

Among the standout Ugandan victories was the mixed doubles pairing of Julius Obura and Harriet Nakayima, who secured a straight-games victory over the Israeli-Benin combination of Linir Haziza and Amandine Oloukou, winning 21-16, 21-15.

Another impressive comeback came from Jonathan Ochan and Juliet Mary Namunoga, who recovered after losing the opening game to defeat Latifu Ngobi and Elizabeth Mwesigwa 19-21, 21-11, 21-12.

In the women’s singles SL4/SU5 competition, Sumin Mutesi defeated Harriet Nakayima in straight sets before Elizabeth Mwesigwa produced a commanding performance to overcome Resty Nangobi Kalembe 21-4, 21-3, highlighting the growing depth of Uganda’s female para badminton players.

Jonathan Ochan also impressed in the men’s SL4/SU5 singles competition, defeating Charles Kalega Kizza 21-10, 21-8 to progress confidently through his group.

Uganda continued to register positive results in doubles competition, with Godfrey Katalo and Latifu Ngobi edging fellow Ugandans Sumin Mutesi and Juliet Mary Namunoga in a tightly contested encounter before Ritah Asiimwe and Elizabeth Mwesigwa defeated the Israeli-Ugandan pairing of Linir Haziza and Julius Masereka in straight games.

The tournament has also seen strong performances from Nigeria, whose players dominated several men’s singles and wheelchair events, underlining the country’s growing strength in para badminton on the continent.

For many competitors, the Uganda International is more than just another tournament. It offers valuable international ranking points and serves as an important step on the road toward qualification for future global competitions, including LA 2028.

Kenyan SH6 player John Otoa returned to Kampala for the first time since competing in the 2019 edition.

Having previously won one bronze and two silver medals in Uganda, Otoa expressed his delight after claiming a gold medal this year.

He explained that despite administrative challenges that led to the suspension of Kenya’s federation, athletes had continued training and remained committed to returning stronger to international competition.

His focus now shifts to the Brazil International tournament in two weeks before beginning the qualification journey towards the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

Rwandan wheelchair player Cody Ndairosa Ndamoro described the Uganda tournament as an invaluable learning opportunity.

Competing internationally for only the second time, he believes every tournament helps improve his experience and confidence while encouraging more people living with disabilities to embrace para badminton.

Ugandan wheelchair athlete Naziwa Sarah enters this year’s competition determined to improve on the silver medal she won in 2025.

Her ambition is straightforward—winning her first international gold medal on home soil.

Meanwhile, Asimwe Rita, a Ugandan Paralympian and para badminton player who represented Uganda at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and is the African champion in the SU5 category, admitted that the reduced international participation had limited opportunities for athletes seeking valuable qualification points.

Despite returning after a two-year competitive break, she was pleased with her performance and proud to once again represent Uganda. For Asimwe, wearing the national colours remains a privilege regardless of the circumstances.

Samuel Ekama, Second Vice President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria and National Coordinator of Para Badminton, credited Uganda’s consistency in organising the championship as an inspiration for the establishment of Nigeria’s own international para badminton tournament, the first of its kind in West Africa.

Having attended Uganda’s tournament since 2007, he praised the organisation, accommodation, transportation and overall experience, saying the annual competition has become a model for para badminton development across Africa.

He added that the championship has provided exposure, recognition and greater inclusion for persons with disabilities while creating opportunities for athletes to realise their full sporting potential.

As competition continues throughout the week at Lugogo Indoor Stadium, the Uganda Para Badminton International remains a celebration of resilience, determination and inclusion.

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