Badminton
BADMINTON QUEEN, DORCAS DEPARTS FOR TRAINING CAMP IN DENMARK
Nigeria’s number one female badminton player, Dorcas Adesokan has departed Nigeria for Denmark for a month training camp where she will be taking part in some competitions as she aims to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Dorcas who is the defending champion of the National Championships in Nigeria, the 1st Katsina Golden Star Badminton Championship and Mutual Benefits Badminton Championship which took place in Lagos state in 2017 is set to continue her dominance in 2018 but will be expecting a fight from the likes of Deborah Ukeh of Edo State and Zainab Momoh.
Speaking to www.badmintonnigeria.org Dorcas hailed the present board of the Federation led by Francis Orbih for engaging the players in international and national competitions.
“I am elated because the players are now having quality tournaments. Four top players returned from a training tour in Indonesia six days ago where they spent 63 days and today I am travelling to Holland for at least 31 days.
“As you know I don’t talk much but will let the shuttle and racket do the talking”, she remarked. Dorcas who recently got the sum of five million naira from the Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, is expected back in the country next.
Meanwhile, the six Para-Badminton players to the just concluded Uganda International Badminton championship and the Africa senior Para-Badminton championship in Kampala have been hailed by the BFN board and also praised the wife of Abia State Governor, Nkechi Ikpeazu for her support to the tournaments.
The team, led by Vice President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria Muhammad Maina, returned with 19 medals to the country on Sunday.
One of the six players, Seyi Dada Dixon who won two gold medals and ranked number one in Africa in his WH Wheel Chair 2 category expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress in the two championships.
He told www.badmintonnigeria.org that the competition at the Uganda International, as expected, was very tough and the players won a gold, three silver and three bronze medals.
“The two championships were very tough and good for the players but the team won more medals in the Africa Senior Para-Badminton championship. Winning 19 medals comprising eight gold, eight silver and three bronze medals was a remarkable one for us.
“We hope to set a better target than this next year”. Other players who competed in the championships are Bello Oyebanji Rafiu (SL 4), Chukwuebuka Sunday Eze (SL 3), Umar Baba Pate (SU 5), Ijeoma Gift (SL 3) and Chinyere Lucky Okoro (SL-4).
Badminton
Nigeria’s Mariam Bolaji wins at 2024 Spanish Para Badminton International
Nigeria Para Badminton star, Mariam Eniola Bolaji has won the women’s singles SL3 title at the just concluded Spanish Para Badminton International 2024 in Victoria, Spain.
The world number 10 overwhelmed world number 6 Oksana Kozyna from Ukraine 2-0 (21-13, 21-8) to clinch the gold medal over the weekend.
Bolaji had defeated world number 13 Emona Ivanova (Bulgaria) 2-0 (21-4, 21-8) to set up a clash with the 2023 silver medallist in the finals.
In round two, Mariam Bolaji defeated India’s Mandeep Kaur Mandeep, seeded number one 2-0 (21-10, 21-8). Earlier, Bolaji beat Victoria Bailey of England 2-0 (21-5, 21-4) in round one of the 2024 Spanish International.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih expressed delight over the latest victory of gold medallist, Mariam Eniola Bolaji.
Orbih said Eniola’s performance has been encouraging, adding that she has become a force in world Para Badminton.
He said, “I am excited Mariam Eniola Bolaji has won her second Spanish International since making her debut in 2021. Bolaji won her first gold medal in 2021 and made history in 2024 by winning the gold medal against highly experienced Oksana Kozyna. Kozyna (World number 6) who had a better edge looking at the statistics because she placed second in 2023 but Bolaji showed class in the final with her spectacular performance in the final.
“On behalf of the Badminton community, I want to commend Bolaji for her dedication. Determination and zeal. Her performance has been encouraging since she broke into the limelight and she has become a force to reckon with.
“The Paris Paralympic Games is fast approaching and the Federation will do everything within its powers to see that she gets adequate attention because she stands a better chance of winning a medal for Nigeria”.
Badminton
Gold, Silver And Bronze Medals Certain For Nigeria In Badminton Men’s Singles Event! –
It is already given and merely awaiting to be stamped. Nigeria will win the two top positions of the men’s singles event of the 13th African Games’ badminton.
Thanks to the great efforts of Anuoluwapo Opeyori who defied the stiff opposition by Egypt’s Ahdam Abdelhalim to win a tough semi-final match by 2-1.
It is not the first time that Opeyori will overcome the Egyptian in the same fashion of coming from a game behind.
He did it in 2020 at the third place match of the African Championship at the Cairo Stadium Hall 2.
By his current performance, Opeyori has set up a final match with his compatriot and usual doubles partner, Godwin Olofua in the final match later in the day.
What a dramatic event! The match-up is a repeat of the All African championship held in Port Harcourt in 2019 when the duo played the final match.
For Olofua who is Qatar based, this is an opportunity for him to revenge his loss to Opeyori. Both players are well known to one another.
No matter the result, Nigeria will be the winner.
Olofua is in the title match after overcoming compatriot, Victor Ikechukwu in an all-Nigeria semi-final contest.
Badminton
Nigeria Shines At Badminton Championship In Cairo; Anu Retains African Title –
Nigeria’s team at the just concluded All Africa Senior Badminton Championship, Cairo 2024, claimed seven medals with the country’s number one badminton player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori clinching his fifth African title and the third back to back.
Anuoluwapo had earlier won the All Africa Senior Championships Men’s Singles title in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 2019, the All Africa Games MS title in Morocco in 2019, the All Africa Senior Championships MS title in Uganda 2022, the All Africa Senior Championships in South Africa 2023 and now in Egypt 2024.
Nigeria’s male team in the team event narrowly lost to Algeria in the Finals even after securing the first two of five games, thereby settling for Silver. The Women’s team picked a valuable bronze after losing the Semifinals to the Ugandan Women’s team.
In the Individual event, Nigeria’s Wonder Boy, Anuoluwapo Opeyori stormed through to the finals by beating compatriot Victor Ikechukwu 21-13, 19-21, 21-9 to rekindle an old rivalry with Mauritian Georges Julien Paul where he again asserted his dominance by beating Paul 23-21, 11-21, 21-16 to take the coveted MS crown for the third time in a row and his fifth African title.
The relatively new pair of Yunusa Momoh Godwin Olofua did the country proud by beating Mauritius players, Melvin Appiah and Tejraj Pultoo 21-17, 21-15 to reach the Finals. They were, however, unable to subdue the duo of Africa’s number one pair of Algeria’s Kociela Mammeri and Sabri Medel, thereby losing 12-21, 8-21 to clinch the Silver in the Men’s Doubles event.
In the Women’s Doubles, Nigeria’s Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan paired with a new partner, Sofiyat Obanishola to lose out narrowly to Ugandan’s Husina Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi 21-18, 19-21, 18-21 after fighting gallantly in the Semifinals to get a spot on the podium for the bronze medal.
In the Mixed Doubles event, yet another fresh pair of Aliyu Alhaji Shehu and Deborah Ukeh-Divine lost the Semifinal match to home team of Adham Hatem Gamel and Doha Hany of Egypt 9-21, 12-21 (0-2) to take the bronze medal for their efforts.
In all, Nigeria was able to take home an impressive total of 1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals for relatively new pairs in all the doubles categories.
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih,Esq, expressed his appreciation for the performance of the Team Nigeria contingent and lamented the loss in the Finals of the Men’s Team events.
“We were so close after getting the first 2 games in our favour, but we understand that in games as in life, anything can happen. We are grateful to and appreciative of our players and their performances”, Francis said.
He also appreciated the Hon. Minister for Sport Development, Hon John Enoh for the Ministry’s support for the team.
He promised that the board would continue to support players in all categories and at all levels.
Francis further stressed the plans of the badminton board to immediately resume preparations for the upcoming badminton event at All Africa Games holding in Ghana from the 3rd to 10th March 2024.
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