Badminton
TEAM NIGERIA WIN ALL AFRICA SENIOR BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS
Team Nigeria have established their dominance on the continent after they clear the stable to emerge champions of the 2019 All Africa Senior Badminton Championships which ended in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday.
Nigeria won four gold medals, two silver medals and
one bronze to top the medal table.
The team had earlier secured the most coveted
gold medal in the team event on Thursday and followed that up with further
three gold medals in the individual championships.
Top stars Anuoluwapo Opeyori and Dorcas Adesokan
produced the most stunning shows after they dethroned Georges Paul and Kate Foo
Kune from Mauritius in the men’s and women’s singles respectively.
Mauritius’ Kune had reigned as African champion
since 2014; she even beat Adesokan in the final of the last edition in Algeria,
but she met a determined Nigerian this time, who showed grit to hand down to
her a 21-12, 21-13 defeat in the final of women’s singles.
In the men’s singles, Godwin Olofua, ranked
third in Africa, had shockingly defeated top seed, Paul, in the semifinals to
set up all Nigerian affairs final with Opeyori.
It was a thrilling encounter between two friends
and mates but Opeyori won 21-17, 16-21, 21-17 to claim his maiden African
title.
It was also an Nigerian affairs in the women’s doubles
as the pair of Adesokan and Deborah Ukeh defeated Amin Christopher and Chinenye
Ibere.
In the mixed doubles, Algeria’s duo of Koceila
Mammeri and Linda Mazri successfully defended the title they won last year at
home when they defeated Nigeria’s Enejo Abbah and Peace Orji 15-21, 21-16,
21-18.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom
Wike, has expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the tournament and
the performance of Team Nigeria.
He announced a reward of $100,00 for Team
Nigeria for their efforts in the competition.
“The President of the Badminton
Confederation of Africa just told me that this is the best tournament they have
ever conducted; that’s is a every encouraging one.
“We
are happy to grab the opportunity of hosting this event and our government will
continue to support badminton and of course sports in general,” he said.
However, the President of the Nigeria Badminton
Federation, Francis Orbih, on behalf of the board, announced the conferment of
Wike as the Patron of the BFN.
Adesokan described her performance as the best
in her career. “Anytime I want to play against her I was always jittery
but I told myself that had to change this time. I have done it, Kate will never
beat me again,” she said.