Jeremiah Nnanna Makes History as Africa’s First Male Para-Badminton World Championship Medallist

Africa reached a historic milestone in global para-badminton as Jeremiah Chigozie Nnanna delivered a performance that will be remembered for generations. Competing in the fiercely contested men’s SL4 category, the Nigerian star secured a bronze medal at the Para-Badminton World Championship, becoming the first African male athlete ever to stand on the podium at the world championships.

Nnanna’s journey to the podium was anything but easy as the SL4 category, which features athletes with lower-limb impairments who compete standing, is known for its speed, physical intensity, and tactical demands. At the championship, Nnanna proved he belonged among the world’s best, displaying resilience, discipline, and composure against some of the sport’s most experienced players.

His historic bronze was sealed after a tough semi-final battle against India’s Naveen Sivakumar, one of the leading figures in global para-badminton. Though narrowly missing out on a place in the final, Nnanna’s performance earned him a place on the podium and firmly announced Africa’s arrival in a discipline long dominated by Asia and Europe.

The significance of Nnanna’s achievement goes far beyond a single medal. Para-badminton was only introduced to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020, making the sport relatively young on the world stage and African representation at topmost level has been limited, largely due to funding challenges, limited exposure, and fewer competitive pathways. Nnanna’s breakthrough therefore marks a turning point, proving that African athletes can compete and succeed at the highest level.

For Nigeria, the medal is another significant statement of progress in para-sports. In recent years, Nigerian para-athletes have consistently punched above their weight across multiple disciplines, and Nnanna’s success adds fresh momentum to that rise. His achievement also serves as inspiration for young athletes across the continent who are now able to see a clear pathway from local courts to the world stage.

By winning bronze at the Para-Badminton World Championship, Jeremiah Chigozie Nnanna has not only written his name into history, he has opened a new chapter for African para-badminton.