The 2025 National Badminton Championship came to an exciting close on Thursday, July 17, after four days of competitive play featuring athletes from across the country.
Plateau State emerged as one of the standout performers, finishing in second place with a total of eight medals — four gold, one silver, and three bronze. Ogun State followed closely in third place with five medals, while Kwara State secured the fourth spot with three gold medals. Imo State completed the top five with a total of nine medals, including one gold, five silver, and three bronze.
Unfortunately, Ebonyi State finished at the bottom of the table without winning any medals.The championship, which began on Monday, July 14, was officially declared closed by the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu.
He commended the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and the Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Nwaobilor Ananaba, for successfully hosting the event, while encouraging athletes to see themselves as national heroes.
Also speaking at the closing ceremony, BFN President, Francis Obih, and Commissioner Ananaba emphasized that the tournament not only showcased sporting excellence but also led to the discovery of fresh talent that could represent Abia, Nigeria, and Africa in the future.
One of the major highlights of the closing event was a special exhibition match featuring Paralympic bronze medallist Eniola Bolaji, who teamed up with Ayuba Yahaya to defeat Odinakachi Uwalaka and James Akpan in the SL3 final, delighting spectators and reinforcing the importance of inclusion in Nigerian sports.
The championship affirmed Abia State’s growing commitment to sports development and talent discovery, as the curtain fell on what was widely regarded as one of the most well-organized badminton events in recent years.
