Bello Rafiu Oyebanji the Nigerian Para badminton player, considered among the best Para badminton players from Africa died in a motorcar accident on 21st April.
A triple gold medallist during the African Para Badminton Championships 2018. Bello who played in the Standing Lower category, would have made history by becoming the first Nigerian and African to participate the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Bello had taken up badminton 17 years ago with able-bodied players. He also started to coach but remained focused as a player.
Presently, Bello was busy in preparing for the upcoming Spanish Para Badminton International in Cartagena, which will be the last qualification tournament for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Tributes were paid to Bello by: BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer, BWF Vice President Para Badminton Paul Kurzo and BWF Council Member, Para Badminton Athletes’ Commission Chair Richard Perot and Badminton Confederation Africa.
