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Paralympics Round-Up: GB win Paralympic triathlon, badminton medals 

Paralympics Round-Up: GB win Paralympic triathlon,  badminton medals 

Triathlete Dave Ellis opened Great Britain’s medal account on day five of the Paralympics, taking gold in the men’s PTVI event in Paris.

It did not take long for Megan Richter and Hannah Moore to add gold and bronze respectively in the women’s PTS4 event as crowds flocked to the banks of the Seine, with 11 triathlon events taking place on one day.

Tokyo 2020 medallists Claire Cashmore and Lauren Steadman won silver and bronze respectively in the women’s PTS5 event, while Dan Bethell took badminton silver in the SL3 singles, losing a tight match to India’s Kumar Nitesh.

Ellis and Richter took GB’s gold tally to 25 and their overall medal count to 48 – second only to China (78 medals, including 37 golds), who have topped the table at the past five Games.

Ellis and guide Luke Pollard made up for heartbreak in Tokyo by winning gold in the men’s PTVI event.

They went in as favourites three years ago but suffered a mechanical failure on the bike leg which ended their race.

There were no such issues in the French capital, with Ellis and Pollard putting in a dominant final run leg to move up from third and finish in a time of 58 minutes 41 seconds.

Paralympic debutant Richter swiftly followed with victory in the women’s PTS4 competition, finishing in one hour 14 minutes 30 seconds.

Alison Peasgood took fourth in the women’s PTVI alongside guide Brooke Gillies, having returned to the sport after the birth of her son Logan last August.

Steadman and Cashmore go head to head
There were some familiar faces at the front of the women’s PTS5 event, with all three Tokyo medallists returning to the podium.

Three years ago it was GB’s Steadman who took the title, finishing ahead of team-mate Cashmore, who took bronze, and American Grace Norman.

This time it was Norman who triumphed, coming ahead of Cashmore and Steadman.

The trio share a strong bond – Steadman and Claire Cashmore were schoolmates in Devon, while the Tokyo gold medallist was Norman’s bridesmaid when she got married.

It has been a tough few years for Steadman, who has suffered with long Covid and returned to triathlon after a spell in winter sports, but she now has a second Paralympic medal.

Cashmore’s haul now stands at 10, with a podium place at every Games since Athens 2004.

Badminton silver for Bethell
Bethell was edged out for gold in the men’s SL3 singles.

Having lost the first game 21-14, Bethell fought back to level the tie, taking the second game 21-18.

The two athletes went right down to the wire, reaching 21-21, but Nitesh won successive points to close out the match.

It will fall on Krysten Coombs to try and bring home a first GB gold in the sport when he face Charles Noakes of France in the men’s SH6 singles final at about 21:00 BST on Monday.

Can Peacock bounce back?
At the Stade de France British attention focuses on Jonnie Peacock, who will be attempting to win his third Paralympic gold in the men’s T64 100m final at 18:50.

Peacock finished on top of the podium in London and Rio, but finished with a bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago.

Meanwhile, six-time gold medallist David Weir will be in action in the first round of the men’s T54 1500m (20:25).

In the morning session, Tunisia’s Walid Ktila failed to win a fourth consecutive men’s T34 sprint title, finishing second to Thailand’s Chaiwat Rattana.

In the first round of the women’s T12 400m, Italy’s Valentina Petrillo, the first openly transgender athlete to compete at the Paralympics, qualified from her heat after finishing second with a time of 58.35 seconds.

Petrillo, won bronze in the World Championships last year, will race in the semi-finals at 19:43.

Two of the three GB competitors qualified for the final of the women’s T54 1500m – Melanie Woods and Samantha Kinghorn both set qualifying times, but Eden Rainbow-Cooper, whose medal hopes were ended by a collision in the 5,000m final, missed out with a seventh-place finish in her heat.

Ellie Challis was Britain’s youngest medallist at the Tokyo Games when she won silver in the S3 50m backstroke at the age of 17.

She will hope to go one better in Paris (17:05) after winning Monday morning’s heat in 53.86.

Louise Fiddes is also in with a chance of winning a medal in the women’s SB14 100m breaststroke final (17:20), after she finished second in her heat in 1:17.46.

Team-mate Olivia Newman-Baronius will join her, claiming the final qualification spot with a fourth-place finish in her heat, while Harry Stewart will race in the men’s SB14 100m final after finishing third in his morning race.

BBC

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Rugby Makes Progress In Enugu As State’s Association Set For Inauguration

Rugby In Enugu
The Enugu State Government is set to make a bold statement in youth sports development with the inauguration of a Rugby Association, marking another step towards empowering young athletes and expanding the footprint of rugby in Nigeria.
In a significant move, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Enugu State, Barr. Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jr., a seasoned barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has accepted the role of Patron of Rugby in Nigeria, underscoring his commitment to youth engagement through sports.
During a strategic meeting with a delegation from the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF)—comprising General Manager Azeez Ladipo, Chief Operating Officer Babatunde Adeluola, and General Secretary Chinedu Osuoha—the Commissioner pledged full support for the growth of rugby in the state.
“I am honored to be chosen as a patron of rugby in Nigeria,” Ekweremadu stated. “I assure you that the Enugu Rugby Association will be inaugurated to drive the game’s development across the state. As for the Annual General Meeting (AGM), we will assess what is required and explore the possibility of hosting it.”
Speaking on behalf of the NRFF, General Manager Azeez Ladipo emphasized the federation’s commitment to providing the necessary support to ensure the smooth establishment and operations of the association.
“We will offer technical assistance, workforce training, and grassroots development programs to introduce rugby in schools, communities, and universities across Enugu State,” Ladipo said.
The delegation proceeded to inspect various facilities across the city, and according to the General Manager of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), “The facilities are simply outstanding. With what we’ve seen on ground, nothing is stopping rugby in Enugu.”
With this initiative, Enugu joins a growing list of states investing in rugby, reflecting a broader movement toward diversifying Nigeria’s sports landscape and creating more opportunities for youth participation. Further deliberations will continue on the state’s potential role in hosting the federation’s next AGM.
This marks a new chapter for rugby in Enugu, and stakeholders are optimistic about its impact on youth empowerment, talent discovery, and the overall growth of the sport in Nigeria.

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How Corruption Stalled My Guinness World Record Fight in the Past 19 Years – Bash Ali

African Boxing Ambassador, Nigerian Bashiru Lawrence Ali, OON, has made a clarion call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in order for the country to see the dream of staging the Guinness World Boxing Championship during his tenure in office.
Ali, who is fondly called Bash Ali by his teeming admirers believes that the situation has gone to the level that a presidential intervention from a good man like Tinubu can make the dream come to reality, especially with the way official corruption has allegedly hindered the organisation of the epic world boxing fight in Nigeria over the years.
“Sir, for almost 19 years the FGN has failed me. The FGN has extorted millions from me. The FGN has blackmailed me. The FGN has scammed me and despite several juicy offers to fight outside of Nigeria I still refused to give up on my country, Nigeria. I want to fight in my country, Nigeria so help me, please,” the World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion lamented in a letter he wrote to the president on Wednesday, 2 April 2025.
Bash Ali wrote: “Corruption has killed millions of Nigerians and has left most confused and frustrated. If someone had told me that after almost two years into your administration my Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fight would still be stalled, despite my several meetings and discussions with you on the subject matter, I would have punched the person in the mouth.
“For almost 19 years, to make this historic event a reality in Nigeria, the FGN has on three occasions, November 9, 2006, January 7, 2014, and May 21, 2019 inaugurated the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee with the three arms of government, legislative (Senate and House of Representatives committee chairmen on sports), executive (office of the chief of staff to Mr. President) and the judiciary (office of the Attorney General of the Federation) as members. The private sector will provide the funds while the FGN will provide an enabling environment for a successful show, but corruption has stalled it.”
The African Boxing Ambassador went on to inform President Tinubu that “it is imperative to inform you that the FGN is not putting up a KOBO but to provide an enabling environment and in the process earn the glory, honour and money from hosting this historic event.
“My President Sir, after the FGN has collected $12m and extorted millions of Naira from me in the disguise of putting in place the promotional structures, the FGN has stalled the process of hosting this historic fight because I say NO to further extortion,” he said.
Bash Ali told Tinubu that out of frustration and to get justice, “I had to go to court, and the matter is again coming up on April 7, 2025. I did not leave my comfort zone in Oakland, California, United States of America to fight the FGN in a court of law but to fight in a boxing ring to bring honour, glory and financial growth to FGN but I am in court because I have no choice.
“Sir, the people who extorted millions of Naira from me on behalf of the FGN and those who were not successful are still in your cabinet and have sworn that this historic fight will not see the light of the day unless I cooperate with corruption.”
The ageless pugilist pleaded with Tinubu to intervene by “asking that the court case against the FGN be settled out of court. I am respectfully asking for the immediate re-inauguration of the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee and that all the unnecessary obstacles caused by corruption by the FGN should be removed so this historic fight can hold in our great country, Nigeria.”
Bash Ali did not end his letter to the president without revealing the immediate benefits of staging the Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fight in Nigeria. He said: “All Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fights have been held in the United States of America so mine would be the first outside and the most lucrative in the history of Pay Per View Television Revenue, sales of souvenirs, sponsorship, advertisement etc. No fewer than 132 countries are coming to Nigeria to be part of the Boxing History and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has written to the World Boxing Body to guarantee in Nigeria the safety of their members and that the Ministry of Youth & Sports, now the National Sports Commission (NSC) will follow up to ensure timely payment of their Approval Fee which is domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria by the private sector.

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Nigeria Set to Host African Women’s Club Volleyball Championship – NVBF President

 

The President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, has expressed confidence in the country’s readiness to host the African Women’s Club Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place from April 1 to 14 in Abuja.

Speaking during an inspection of facilities, Nimrod commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the main sponsor of the championship, for their unwavering support.

“With the help of the Nigeria Customs Service, who are the main sponsors, we want to say thank you very much. They are doing a very good job, and we appreciate them,” he said.

The Nigeria Customs Service, as the sole sponsor of the event, is determined to deliver a world-class tournament, with its volleyball team aiming to surpass their fourth-place finish in 2021 and make history by winning on home soil.

Nimrod assured that Nigeria Customs’ women’s volleyball team is in top form ahead of the competition, having embarked on a West African tour in preparation.

“I know they are in full preparation. They are on a West African tour, and I know they would do their best. We are well prepared. It is left for the players now, but I know that everything required for them has been provided by the Nigeria Customs Service,” he stated.

He also called on volleyball enthusiasts across the country to come to Abuja and support the tournament.

“The opening ceremony is taking place on the 3rd, and the closing ceremony on the 13th. I want to request all Nigerians, particularly volleyball enthusiasts and players, to come to Abuja,” he urged.

The African Women’s Club Volleyball Championship will bring together top teams from across the continent, further strengthening Nigeria’s position in international volleyball.

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