The board of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Badminton Association paid a courtesy visit to the Indian embassy and was hosted by the Head of Chancery, Mr Pramod Kumar Agrawal. 

In a statement signed by Head of Media FCT Badminton Association Uche Nwudoh Hillary on Wednesday in Abuja reveals that FCT Badminton Chairman Comptroller Usman Bappa(Rtd) called for collaboration with the Indian embassy and community in Nigeria to strengthen the game. 

“We want to appreciate you for receiving us today. We are here to express our desire to collaborate with you, knowing fully well, that we have been observing your active participation in Badminton, not just the Indian Embassy, but also the Indian community in the FCT”.

“This is not far from the fact that the beautiful game of Badminton has its roots traced to Ancient Greece, China, and India.

The FCT Badminton Chairman, Usman Bappa, used the opportunity to brief his host on this board’s project of organizing a competition for out-of-school and in-school indigent children. 

He also briefed the Indian Head of Chancery on the Area Council badminton cup, which will end in a grand finale named the Nyesom Wike tournament.

“We are currently putting the finishing touches to an event and project so dear to our hearts; it is called the Asian Badminton Cup where other Asian communities will be involved, and not just the Indians alone. The competition is to honor the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike and the Indian community will prominently be part of it”.

The FCT Badminton Chairman, Usman Bappa, stated that the board is doing their best to equip more than 45 clubs in the FCT and give players and officials periodic training. 

The board made an appeal for equipment which are expensive due to the prevailing economic hardship for the players to afford. 

In his response, the Head of Chancery, Mr Pramod Kumar Agrawal, promised to support the FCT badminton board in the best possible way to see the growth of badminton achieved. 

He commended the initiative to include Indian and other Asian communities in competitions as it will help in the growth and participation of Badminton in the FCT.