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Best of the best players invade Nigeria for Lagos International Badminton Classics

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Once again, the Teslim Balogun Stadium’s  Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Hall goes agog again as the best badminton players all over the world congregate there next week.

They are a total of 108 foreign players from over 35 countries and will be joined by 43 Nigerian players who will jostle for podium finish as well as gathering points to aid their entries for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

It looks a renewed vigour after a two-year hiatus caused mainly by the Covid-19 pandemic and logistical issues. And so, the rackets will once again go up to smash the shuttles when the sixth edition of the Lagos International Badminton Classics – the biggest and best in Africa – gets underway from 30 August to 2 September.

According to Francis Orbih, president of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and council member of the continental body, BCA, 37 countries as at last Friday, have confirmed entry.

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“More are expected this week,” the Badminton Confederation of Africa remarked last Friday. Among the 37 countries so far entered are some from the top league of badminton circuit. In alphabetical order, they include:

Algeria, Azerbaijan, Australia, Austria, Benin Republic, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada and Czech Republic.

The other countries include England, Equatorial Guinea, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Mauritius, and Norway.

Also jostling for the biggest prize obtainable in any tournament in Africa are players from  Nigeria, Peru, Sri Lanka, Spain, South Africa, Slovakia, Slovenia, Togo, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, USA and Zambia.

Ambassadors of different countries whose players will be participating are expected to be in attendance together with a the badminton loving governors of Kebbi, Ekiti and Ebonyi states who will all add glamour to the Classics.

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The Lagos Classics has been variously described as the highest category of Badminton World Federation-sanctioned championship to be hosted by any African Country.

The rating of the Classics also affords the participants, including Nigerian players, the opportunity to garner points towards qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics as well as improve their BWF World ranking.

Mr Orbih expressed happiness that the competition is staging a big comeback after being off the calendar for 3 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its after effects.

“We are glad the biggest and flagship event in the African Badminton circuit is back,” the President said.

Orbih thanked the Lagos State Government, especially Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu for sustaining Lagos State’s support and sponsorship of the event calling on other States to emulate the gesture.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Badminton chieftain, Orbih dreams of ‘born-again’ Lagos International Badminton Classic

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BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU

The Lagos International Badminton Classics may from the next edition step up to the next level with a reinvigorated government-private partnership initiative.

President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Francis Orbih believes that the governments at all levels cannot fund sports alone and if sports need to develop the private sector also has a role to play in its development in the country.

Orbih made the call on Saturday while addressing newsmen during the closing ceremony of the 7th edition of the Lagos Badminton Classics which took place at the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

“Nigeria players need more encouragement and support because you know it will be difficult for most of these players to travel out for this kind of championships.

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“And that is why we try to make this event an annual event so that they can have that opportunity to play the game at this level” Orbih hinted.

“They need the exposure because without it, there is a limit to what you can do so we have to challenge them, and to whom much is given, much is expected, and it is the much we can give to them that determines the much we expect from them”.

“In giving this much, we need the private sector for sports to grow and develop because the government cannot do it alone” Orbih emphasized.

On the just concluded 7th edition of the tournament Orbih noted that the championship has lived up to his expectations even though the Federation can do better, and one practice which they have adopted is to surpass the performance of the previous edition while hosting a current edition.

He further added that Nigeria had a good outing as we reached some semifinals in some categories while the mixed doubles reached the finals.

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“For the men’s singles, our number one player was edged out in the quarterfinal, and it was at this same level in last year’s edition that he was edged out”. “We thought he would have improved this year and reach the final but that was not possible but I am expecting that we will improve on his performance in the next edition” an optimistic Orbih added

Orbih did not fail to remind all that Opeyori’s rise to stardom in Nigeria and Africa as whole was a journey that started so many years ago and so much need to be done if the younger ones have to rise to his level in the future.

 “A lot of people who see Opeyori today think he just got to this level over night”. “They do not know what he has gone through to become Africa’s number one. We as a federation need to go back to the age-grade tournament at the U12, U15 and U17 level so we can start preparing them with lots of exposure to attain his level”. “There is no magic and there is no short cut and if we need to get more players like Opeyori, we need to invest more at the age-grade level and that is it”.

He also did not fail to state that Opeyori started the Lagos Badminton Classics from its first edition in 2014 and it was his exposure over the years through the event and other championships that gave him the experience needed which made him qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

On India’s domination of the Lagos Badminton Classics, Orbih noted that India is a powerhouse as far as badminton is concerned and it is because this tournament has a lot of world ranking players that makes it good for Nigerian players to take part in it so that they can also acquire exposure too.

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It’s Indian delight at Lagos International Badminton Classic

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The duo of Kanapuram Sathwik Reddy and Khadkekarr Vaishnavi

BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU

The Indians are having a swell time at the Lagos International Badminton Classic.

Not only did an Indian player, Samarveer responsible for Nigeria’s Anuoluwapo Opeyori’s ouster at the quarter-finals, the Indians have won the mixed doubles beating a Nigerian pair.

They were delighted at the relative ease of their accomplishment.

The duo of Kanapuram Sathwik Reddy and Khadkekarr Vaishnavi  expressed their shock on how easy it was for them to beat Nigeria’s duo of Shehu, Alhaji Aliyu and Ukeh, Uchechukwu Deborah in the finals of the mixed doubles on home ground.

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The game which was played on court two of the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall on Saturday, saw the Indians record two straight wins against Nigeria to win 2-0 (21-12,21-14).

Speaking after the win, both players who were overjoyed about their wins expressed themselves.

“It’s my first time of playing in Nigeria” Reddy started “And am glad this game ended very well, we are happy to win and we never expected it would come this easy”

“When we reached the final and were going to play Nigeria we thought it was going to be very tough because of the home crowd, but it was not” he said.

Adding her voice a delighted Vaishnavi also appreciated the warm reception given by the host country in organizing the tournament.

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“I am happy with the environment and reception here, the atmosphere is peaceful and the people are very nice, we feel very happy winning” she concluded.

The Indians who have dominated the finals of the doubles in previous editions edged Nigeria’s side to win the mixed doubles.

It will also be recalled that Nigeria’s duo of Shehu Alhaji Aliyu and Ukeh, Uchechukwu Deborah reached the finals of this edition without lifting their racket, as they walked over their French opponents who were ruled out due to arm injury.

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India Stops Nigeria From Reaching Final of Women’s Doubles

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BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU

Nigeria’s duo of Dorcas Ajoke and Ilori Aminat on Friday failed to reach the final of the women’s doubles of the Lagos Badminton Classic at the  Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The duo suffered two straight defeats at the hands of India’s Singhi Simran and Selvan Kavipriya who defied the slim efforts made by the home fans to cheer the Nigerian sides to victory.

The game which was played on court 2 was however slightly disrupted by power supply barely five minutes of play but that did not stop the Asian side from getting the job done when power was restored.

In a later development, Nigeria’s duo of Shehu Alhaji Aliyu and Ukeh Uchechukwu Deborah also reached the final of the mixed doubles without lifting their rackets.

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The duo benefited from a walk over which took them to the final after their French opponents  of Maio Julien and Palermo Lea were ruled out due to arm injury.

The championship comes to a close this Saturday.

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