Badminton
NIGERIA STUNS MAURITIUS TO WIN BADMINTON TEAM EVENT
Team Nigeria Thursday night made history it
defeated Mauritius to claim gold medal in the mixed team event of the All
Africa Senior Badminton Championships in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It was the coveted medal and the West Africans
claimed it in a dramatic way.
Anuoluwapo Opeyori and Dorcas Adesokan were the
stars of the night. They were simply glittering. They shone like thousand
stars! They displayed impressive form. It was tenacity of purpose in display as
the duo worked towards Nigeria’s historic victory.
Opeyori started the onslaught when he secured a
21-11, 21-13 against hard-fighting Aatish Lubah in the men’s singles.
The Nigerian number one had somewhat easy first
set but got it pretty tough in the second as the Mauritian raced to a four
point lead maintaining that until the interval when the Nigerian used combination
of incredible footwork and strong forehand to undo his opponent and won the set
21-13.
The second match was really destined to be a
difficult one for Team Nigeria. Deborah Ukeh was to face the Africa’s number
one in the women category, Kate Foo Kune. In less than 30 minutes the Mauritian
had handed down a 21-12, 21-16 defeat to the Nigerian. The tie stood at 1-1
apiece.
Mauritius opened a lead when Lubah combined
forces with top seed, Georges Paul, to seal a 21-16, 16-21, 21-11 over the duo
of Enejo Abbah and Clement Krobakpor to make it 2-1.
Adesokan paired with Ukeh to restore parity when
they dispatched Aurelie Allet and Loma Botha 21-8, 21-10 in the
women’s doubles to set the stage for the final match.
The atmosphere at the Indoors Hall of the
Ditte Spiff Civic Centre was electrifying, the tension was high as the duo of
Opeyori and Adesokan stepped into the court to face Paul and Kune in the mixed
doubles.
It was the best of Nigeria against the best of
Mauritius and the tie lived up to its billing, extremely close match that ended
21-19, 21-19 in favour of the hosts to send spectators into frenzy.
“This is the best day of my career,”
Opeyori said after the game. “I was jittery this morning but my coach and
mates urged me on and I am happy I didn’t disappoint.”
“The good thing about this victory is that
Nigeria will represent Africa for the first time at the Sudirman Cup in China,
we are the champions of Africa,” an elated President of the Badminton
Federation of Nigeria Francis Obih said.
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has continued its nationwide grassroots development drive with a two-day outreach training held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Organised in collaboration with the Adamawa State Sports Council, the State Ministry of Education, and the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Adamawa chapter, the training took place on 24 and 25 September 2025 at the General Murtala Mohammed College hall.
A total of 20 Physical Education teachers and 80 secondary school students from the Yola area participated in the intensive programme, which aimed to introduce badminton to schools and promote the sport at the grassroots level.
The training was facilitated by a team of five coaches led by George Shitta, who also serves as the Director of Sports at the Taraba State Sports Commission. Participants were taken through the fundamentals of badminton, including grip techniques, footwork, serving, stroke execution, game strategy, and proper warm-up routines.
According to the organisers, the programme was part of the BFN’s ongoing partnership with the Community Sports and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, which has supported similar “Shuttle Time” and “Outreach Badminton Training” sessions across the country over the past three years. These sessions are designed to help teachers and students learn the game together while fostering teamwork, discipline, and social development.
The trainees actively engaged with the coaches — asking questions, sharing experiences, and demonstrating newly acquired skills. At the end of the programme, each participating school received badminton kits, including rackets, shuttlecocks, and nets, to help sustain practice beyond the training.
The Director of the Adamawa State Sports Council, Mr. Daniel Ahmed, graced the event, while the lead facilitator, George Shitta, paid courtesy visits to key education stakeholders — Hajiya Aisha M. Umar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and Birsan Panuel, Executive Secretary of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).
Organisers described the initiative as a model of effective collaboration among sports authorities, education agencies, and development partners — a partnership they hope will continue to enhance both the academic and athletic growth of teachers, coaches, and students in Adamawa State.
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The curtain fell on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday, with host nation Nigeria making the podium and the event earning praise as a model for sports tourism in Africa.
Though global heavyweights dominated the finals, Nigeria’s Obanisola and her partner gave the home crowd reason to cheer by clinching bronze in the Women’s Doubles, ensuring the green and white were represented on the podium.
Elsewhere, India’s S. Lele defended her Women’s Singles crown with a 21-15, 21-17 victory over compatriot Kashyap, while Russia’s neutral duo Alimov and Ogloblin sealed Men’s Doubles gold against UAE’s Ravikrishna and Rimdahoi.
Tournament organizers hailed the event as a resounding success. “The Lagos International Badminton Classics has once again proven that Nigeria is ready to host world-class sporting events,” said Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN). “We are building a brand that showcases Africa’s talent, hospitality, and passion for badminton.”
With $17,500 prize money shared among winners and athletes praising the hospitality of Lagos, the championship reaffirmed Nigeria’s growing profile as a hub for global sports. The 9th edition in 2026 promises an even bigger spectacle.
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Indonesia stamped their authority on the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics, turning the Teslim Balogun Stadium into a stage of triumph as they swept multiple gold medals on the final day of action.
From the opening Mixed Doubles clash to the showpiece Men’s Singles final, the Southeast Asian powerhouse asserted its dominance.
The pair of Prasetyo and Munggaren set the tone by defeating India’s Ravat and Maneesha 21-15, 21-17, before P. Shujiwo powered past Japan’s M. Koga 21-15, 21-17 in a pulsating Men’s Singles final.
The Indonesians celebrate in style
The Women’s Doubles final confirmed Indonesia’s superiority, with Meida and Nastine dispatching UAE’s Quathun and Sreejithparol in just 25 minutes (21-18, 21-7), the shortest contest of the evening.
The highlight of the celebrations came as Indonesia’s national anthem echoed repeatedly through the Okoya Thomas Indoor Hall, with Ambassador Bambang Suharto personally presenting the Men’s Singles trophy to Shujiwo — a moment that underscored the national pride attached to the victories.
With three golds and several silver finishes, Indonesia emerged as the undisputed star nation of Africa’s premier badminton competition.
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