At the end of the eight days of competition at Lat Dior in Thiès, Senegal, represented by a delegation composed of three (03) girls and four (04) garçons, the national anthem of Benin has been sung many times. This is thanks to the performances of its ambassadors, Gladys Anna Akakpo, Blessing Atchadé, Mouinatou Agany, Lewis Kpanou, Steve Bassa, Pacôme Sounouvou and Kriss- Wisnell Akododja.
In total, 39 medals are won by Beninese athletes at the African Junior Championships (U19) and school badminton and AirBadminton. Twenty-two (22) Gold medals, dix (10) Silver and Seven charms (07) and bronze, this is the harvest made by young Beninese badists in Thiès in Senegal. Back home on Monday evening 26 last august, they were welcomed at the Bernadin Cardinal Gantin international airport in Cotonou triumphantly by a hundred supporters with flags in hand, dressed in national colors, a delegation from the Beninese Badmintion Federation and the president of the Beninese Athletics Federation who was also there.
Very surprised by this warm welcome, the coach of the Beninese team, Maxil kpokou confides : “We are happy to have participated in this African championship in Senegal, we are also happy to be champions at the end of this competition. We are very happy with the welcome we received.. This really shows that the Beninese people still remain their teams. In the future, we dream of going further, very far, participate in the Olympic Games ».
The young badists did not fail to express their joys. “We are so happy when we are African champion. You can’t know the joy it feels,” suggested the African badminton champion., Blessing Atchadé. His teammate Kriss- Wisnell Akododja adds : “To be champion of Africa, it's a great chance. The particularity, it was that we were more determined to defend our homeland and prove what we could,” Kriss said.- Wisnell Akododja.
Note that the athletes have promised to keep the flame alive during the Airbadminton games in Mauritius next November..
Edmond HOUESSIKINDE