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Nigerian players in good start as Lagos International Badminton Classics serves off

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Nigerian duo of Anuoluwapo Opeyori and Godwin Olufua got  into a good head start as the sixth edition of the Lagos International Badminton Classics began in Lagos at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Featuring over 130 players from other countries, the competition saw Nigeria’s and African top seed, Opeyori in Court 4 coming from behind to beat compatriot, Victor Ikechukwu  17-21, 21-15 and 21-17 in the Round of 32.

His erstwhile doubles partner, Godwin Olofua who is now based in Qatar easily beat Miha Ivančič of Slovenia 21-11, 21-8.

Both now move to the Round of 16. But it is not all victory song for all the Nigerian players. Apart from Vicotr Ikechukwu beaten by compatriot, Opeyori, other losers include Olorunfemi Ayobami who lost 21-14, 13-21 and 21-11 to Robert White of South Africa and Alhaji Aliyu Shehu losing  21-14, 21-4 to Jonathan Matias. Segun Obasanjo Idowu also lost 21-13, 21-14 to Giovanni Toti

 

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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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