AFTER female swimmer Shrone Austin's two silver medals in the 400-metre individual medley and 800-metre freestyle races on Sunday and Tuesday, Seychelles has grabbed a bronze medal in the badminton mixed team event at the ongoing Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Seychelles foursome of Juliette Ah-Wan, Shirley Etienne, Georgie Cupidon and Nicholas Jumaye finished second in their group behind Nigeria after having collected two wins over Kenya and Ethiopia.

In the semifinals, Seychelles lost to eventual gold medallists South Africa, while losing finalists Nigeria beat Mauritius in the other last-four encounter.

South Africa won the gold medal with a tight 3-2 victory over hosts Nigeria.

In the individual competition, Juliette Ah-Wan, defending African Championship women's singles gold medallist, will be playing for a place in the final today.

Ah-Wan, who won a gold medal together with Georgie Cupidon in the mixed doubles event of the recent Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in Mauritius, will then partner Shirley Etienne in the women's doubles semifinals.

It is to note that badminton is making its debut at the Games.

After the fifth day of competition yesterday, Seychelles has garnered three medals – two silver and a bronze – to occupy seventh place on the medals table.

South Africa leads the standings with 47 medals – 20 gold, 13 silver and 14 bronze.

Only 15 of the record 53 participating countries feature on the medals table.

Meanwhile, Patrick Nanty, head of the Seychelles delegation, has said that Seychellois athletes are doing fine despite some organisational hiccups in Abuja.

Mr Nanty, who is also the principal secretary for sports and culture in the Ministry of Local Government, Sports and Culture, told Sports Nation yesterday afternoon that the Seychelles delegation was doing well in Abuja.

"It is true that there were some organisational problems like transport and food during the first two days, but everything is under control now. Our administrative team is doing its very best to make sure that all Seychellois sportsmen and women are OK. I've just visited athletes at the Games village this afternoon (yesterday afternoon) and they've told me that they are getting on fine. I assure all parents and relatives of athletes who are in Abuja, that great care is being taken of them and not to worry. Performance-wise, we are doing great and we are hot on the heels of the African superpowers," said Mr Nanty.

It is to note that Seychelles is being represented by 53 sportsmen and women in eight of the 22 sporting events in Abuja.

The country is making its sixth consecutive participation at these Games which will run from October 4 to 18.