In a bid to enhance Africa's performance at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) has unveiled a comprehensive program tagged "Road to 2028."
The launch event, held at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, brought together prominent figures in Nigerian badminton and BCA officials. Representing the BCA President, Tukebana Bau, Deputy President Kingston Mulenga emphasized the significance of the gathering.
Mulenga expressed delight at the remarkable achievement of Nigerian badminton player Eniola Bolaji, who made history as the first African to win an Olympic medal. He attributed Africa's past struggles in securing medals to inadequate preparation time, stressing that early preparation would be pivotal in unlocking the continent's vast badminton potential.
"Africa is teeming with badminton talent, and we are committed to harnessing this potential to achieve greatness at the 2028 Olympics," Mulenga stated.
The "Road to 2028" initiative is designed to provide African badminton players with the necessary support and resources to excel at the upcoming Olympic Games.
"We have seen the incredible talent rising within African badminton, and this platform allows us to showcas and celebrate these achievements. By hosting this launch, Nigeria not only highlights its own growing strength in badminton but also paves the way for other African nations to rally around our shared dream.
"We cannot talk about Nigeria without mentioning their recent success at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games Enioła bronze Medal at the games cemented Africa's entrance at the Paralympics and we are looking to build on this success for an even better outing in Los Angeles 2028.
"I would like to thank our partiers, sponsors, and media allies who have joined us in this endeavor. Your support is invaluable, and your presence today is a testament to the unity and passion we share for badminton and for the advancement of African athletes.
"As we launch this journey, I urge each of us to remember that our role does not end here. This is just the beginning. Every effort we make from this point forward brings us closer to our goal. Together, we are building a legacy that will resonate beyond the courts and beyond the years," he concluded.
For his part, the President of the Nigerian Badminton Federation , Francis Orbih enjoined the stakeholders' that as they bask in the euphoria of the feet achieved by Eniola at the last Para-Olympic they must look ahead to the future.
"Today marks a significant milestone in the journey of African badminton. We gather here to celebrate the historic achievement of our para-athlete at the Paris Paralympics, a testament to the unwavering dedication, relentless training, and extraordinary talent of our athletes.
"As we bask in the glory of this triumph, we must also look ahead to the future. The road to the LA 2028 Olympics and Paralympics is a challenging one, but we are determined to overcome all obstacles. We believe that with the right support, our athletes can achieve even greater heights.
"This media launch is not just a celebration; it is a call to action. We urge governments. corporate sponsors, and individuals to join us in this endeavor. Your support will empower our athletes, provide them with world-class training facilities, and enable them to compete at the highest level," he said.
The event saw the presentation of a documentary titled 'A champion's journey'. The documentary drives home the story of African badminton journey towards attaining the bronze medal at the Para-Olympic by Eniola and how they intend to better that performance at the next Olympics at Los Angeles, United States.