Badminton
Flight Tickets Up for Grabs for Spectators at Lagos International Badminton Classics
Nigeria’s duo of Tosin Damilola Atolagbe and Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan in the opening round of the Women’s Doubles event.
The final day on Saturday will see a lot of celebrities in attendance. Apart from the esteemed presence of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who has always graced the previous finals, this year will see celebrities in the entertainment industry attending.
They include Funke Akindele, Desmond Elliot, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Kunle Bamtefa, Sound Sultan, Kunle Afolayan and Olarewaju Ogunmefun, a hip hop artist who is better known by his stage name, Vector tha Viper.
According to the president of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih who is also the chairman of Lagos State Badminton Association, it attendance of the celebrity is to open a new vista in the international classics by bringing a blend of sports and entertainment. “Call it sportainment if you like”, remarked the Nigerian badminton boss.
On Saturday, the day of the final, a raffle draw will be made for all attendees. At stake are two return tickets to London and Accra, Ghana.
They are offered by Medview Airlines. According to the organizers, each person at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall venue of the event will be given a raffle ticket before the draw.
A draw will then be made to determine the two winners. This year’s edition has already seen an increase in the prize money which has risen from a package of $15,000 to $20,000. Orbih remarked that the tournament will keep increasing in significance and attendance and that the next edition will witness new additions to make the classics bigger.
Ahead of the final day, the classics had witnessed upsets. In fact the Day Two had the highest amount of upsets in the four day championship which commenced on Wednesday, at the Molade Okoya indoor sport Hall, Teslim Balogun stadium, Surulere
Following day one’s qualifiers which saw one of Lagos top seed Godwin Olofua knocked out by Isaac Minaphee of Taraba; Enejo Abah of Nigeria was put through his paces as he bowed out of the tournament in the round of thirty two to Ahmed Salah of Egypt, 21-11, 21-16—two straight sets.
Number one seed in the men’s category, Israeli’s Misha Zilberman, made a rather easy progress over Herbert Ebayo of Uganda in two straight sets and further, beat Ghanaian’s Michael Opoku Baah to progress to the quarter finals in the men’s singles.
While Femi Bioku of the Lagos contingent ended his campaign in the hands of second seed, Maddaloni of Italy, current Ivory Coast champion, Anuoluwapo Opeyori looks to be the only light for hosts, Lagos State, after making his way to this year’s quarter final rounds following his triumphant displays over Olamide Adebayo and Habeeb Bello in the round of 32’s and 16’s respectively.
Thurs day’s highest number of upsets came from the women category as the championship’s number one seeded female player, Hadia Hosny of Egypt was dumped out by unseeded Vrushali Gummadi of India in a tight three set encounter—15-21, 21-9, and 21-13.
For total casualties in the female category, the day two set of matches saw four major upsets from top seeds in the category; the likes of second seeded Menna Eltanany of Egypt, Grace Gabriel of Nigeria who is fifth seed, third seeded Egyptian, Doha Hany and Hadia Hosny also of Egypt who is the highest ranked female player in the championship.
Francis Orbih has been re-elected President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for a third consecutive term, emerging unopposed at the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja.
Orbih secured all 13 votes cast during the congress, which took place at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on Monday, March 2. Adamu Alhaji Lawan was also elected as Vice President.
In his acceptance speech, Orbih congratulated the newly elected board members and expressed confidence in their ability to collectively move Nigerian badminton to greater heights.
“I want to congratulate the entire board member and I am confident that we are going to deliver,” Orbih said.
“There is a lot of work to be done. We have had humble achievements in the past. It is time for us to build on what we have achieved and consolidate to take the Federation to greater heights.”
Calling for unity and collaboration, Orbih urged stakeholders to play active roles in strengthening the federation’s programmes and expanding the sport’s reach across the country.
“I am counting on all of you to have your hands on deck because I cannot do it alone. Let us join hands to take the Federation to a level where we’ll be the envy of other sporting federations in Nigeria,” he added. “We have work to do. Whatever you can contribute to the growth and development of the Federation.”
During the inauguration of the new board, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, congratulated Orbih on his re-election and commended the federation for conducting a crisis-free electoral process.
National Sports Commission chairman, Shehu Dikko adresses the new board of the BFN
“I want to congratulate the board members for unanimously re-electing Francis Orbih and having a crisis-free election,” Dikko said.
He urged the president to consolidate on the gains recorded during his previous tenures and to intensify efforts over the next four years.
“Orbih has done well and deserves to be re-elected as a member of the African and World body. He has taken on huge debt by presenting himself as President of BFN, and he doesn’t have any other choice than to continue his good works,” Dikko added.
Orbih’s re-election is expected to provide continuity in the federation’s administration as it seeks to expand grassroots development, improve Nigeria’s international competitiveness and strengthen its presence within continental and global badminton bodies.
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The 2019 Africa Women in Badminton Award winner, Oby Solaja, has been returned for another four-year tenure in the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), reaffirming her enduring influence in the sport’s development.
Solaja’s re-election came during the BFN zonal election held in Enugu, where she emerged as the representative for the South East zone. Delegates affirmed her return in recognition of what officials described as her meritorious contributions to grassroots badminton development across the region.
A former multiple African champion, Solaja was among the global pioneering badminton players to feature at the Olympic Games, carving her name into the sport’s history before transitioning into administration.
Oby Solaja receives a new mandate to contribute to the development of badminton in Nigeria.
After retiring from competitive play, she equipped herself for sports governance by completing the six-module sports administration programme for the CIES/FIFA diploma at Cairo University — a move that strengthened her credentials in sports organisation and leadership.
Grassroots Focus in the Southeast
Over the past four years, Solaja has championed badminton development in Southeastern Nigeria through an annual championship organised in partnership with the Bet9ja Foundation. The tournament, held on a rotational basis across states in the region, has provided a competitive platform for emerging talents and reinforced grassroots participation.
Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu chats with the Southeast Badminton Championship Convener, Oby Edoga-Solaja
Her efforts have been widely credited with expanding the sport’s reach and encouraging youth engagement in badminton within the zone.
Speaking after her confirmation, Solaja pledged renewed vigour in spreading what she described as the “gospel of badminton,” emphasising continuity, talent discovery and structured development pathways.
She also expressed appreciation to Kunle Soname, whose Bet9ja Foundation has supported the propagation of badminton in the Southeast.
With her fresh mandate, stakeholders expect Solaja to consolidate existing programmes while strengthening institutional structures within the federation — a continuation of a journey that began on the court and now thrives in the boardroom.
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The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has etched its name in Nigerian sporting history after its para-badminton star, Eniola Bolaji, rose to World No. 1 in the women’s SL3 category, thus becoming the first athlete under any affiliate of the National Sports Commission to attain the top spot in global rankings.
The latest rankings released on Tuesday, February 17, by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed Bolaji’s ascent to the summit following her historic silver medal finish at the 2026 World Para Badminton Championship in Bahrain.
Historic Rise After World Championship Silver
Bolaji secured her place in history after advancing to the final of the global showpiece, held at the New Capital Hall in Bahrain on February 14. She eventually fell 2–0 (21–12, 21–17) to Japan’s world No. 7, Shino Kawai, but her runner-up finish earned her enough ranking points to dethrone Indonesia’s Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh as world number one.
In the process, Bolaji also became the first African athlete to win a silver medal at the World Para Badminton Championship. This is a milestone that underscores Nigeria’s growing footprint in para-sports.
Her ranking surge was further strengthened by her triumph at the Egypt International in January, where she successfully defended her title for the second consecutive year.
Landmark Moment for Nigerian Sport
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, described Bolaji’s achievement as a defining moment for Nigerian and African sports.
“This is the biggest news of the year, Eniola Bolaji claiming the World No. 1 spot following her participation in the 2024 Paralympic Games. She would likely have attained this position earlier if she had competed in more tournaments last year,” Orbih said.
“She regained full stability last season and has carried that momentum into this year, already featuring in two major tournaments with outstanding performances.”
Bolaji’s achievement places the BFN ahead of other federations under the National Sports Commission in producing a world number one athlete, which is a testament to what observers describe as deliberate investment, structured athlete development, and sustained technical support within the federation.
Powered by GIG, Eniola Bolaji has attained an enviable height
Structured Support Paying Dividends
Orbih credited the progress of para-badminton in Nigeria to coordinated backing from multiple stakeholders.
“This achievement is also a testament to the support and resources committed to para badminton by the National Sports Commission, the Abia State Government, and GIG Logistics. Their continued backing has created the enabling environment for our athletes to train, compete, and excel on the global stage,” he noted.
Despite narrowly missing out on gold in Bahrain, the BFN President praised Bolaji’s resilience and consistency at the elite level.
“I know many Nigerians were expecting another gold medal, but we must recognise that other players are equally determined to dethrone her. She has now become the first African to win a silver medal at the Para-Badminton World Championship,” Orbih added.
A New Benchmark for Nigerian Federations
Bolaji’s ascent to the top of the global rankings marks more than a personal triumph; it signals a structural breakthrough for Nigerian sport.
For decades, Nigerian athletes have achieved continental dominance and occasional global podium finishes, but reaching World No. 1 status — particularly in a ranking-driven sport governed by transparent international metrics — represents a new benchmark.
As Bolaji prepares for upcoming tournaments, the federation has pledged continued technical and logistical support to sustain her dominance.
With a World No. 1 athlete now flying Nigeria’s flag, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria has set a new standard — not only for para-sport development, but for all federations under the National Sports Commission aspiring to global excellence.
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