Joel Ajayi 

The Chairman of the Badminton Association in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Bappa Mohammed, has pledged to intensify efforts toward the growth of badminton in the territory through grassroots-focused tournaments and youth engagement initiatives.

He made this commitment during the medal presentation ceremony at the ongoing 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where Team FCT secured medals in both badminton and para-badminton events.

Mr. Mohammed acknowledged that despite the late start in preparation, the FCT athletes still managed to win medals, including a bronze in mixed doubles and a gold in the para-badminton category.

“We are expecting to double our medal tally after this festival,” he stated. “We started preparations a bit late, and that affected our performance.

However, we’ve discovered new talents through this competition. In FCT, we’ve been organizing several programs to take children off the streets and engage them in badminton. We’ve already launched initiatives across the six area councils.”

He emphasized that although preparations were already underway before the festival, the event temporarily slowed their momentum.

“Immediately after the festival, we’ll scale up activities. By next week, we’re set to begin the Area Council Games. We also plan to upgrade our facilities and acquire new equipment to enhance the look and feel of our badminton arenas.”

Mr. Mohammed highlighted FCT’s history of producing high-quality badminton players and expressed optimism about the next generation.

“Since I took over the leadership of the association, we’ve identified gaps and started implementing innovative strategies to reposition badminton in the FCT. There has been significant improvement, and we’re committed to sustaining that progress.”

He also pointed out some logistical challenges faced during the festival, particularly in terms of athlete accommodation.

“This festival is about showcasing talent, especially among young athletes. But when players do not get enough rest due to poor accommodation logistics, it affects their performance. In some cases, athletes were housed up to two hours away from the venue.”

Mr. Mohammed reaffirmed his commitment to addressing these challenges and ensuring FCT badminton continues to thrive at both grassroots and competitive levels.

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