Badminton
A breathe of new life as Ikoyi Club National Badminton Classic resurrects after 24 Years!
After 24 years hiatus, the country’s biggest badminton tournament, the Ikoyi Club 1938 National Badminton Classic, will make a return beginning from Wednesday, December 13 through December 16, 2023.
The second edition of the Classic last held in 1999.
Speaking at the unveiling of programmes lined up for this third edition of the Classic, President of the Nigeria Badminton Federation (BFN), Francis Orbih, said at the weekend that the country’s best 16 Men and 16 Women players will be on display in the quests to win the mouth-watering prizes at stake.
“This competition started as a National Badminton Open in 1989 and nine editions took place before it became the Ikoyi Club Nationl Badminton Classic. Two editions of the Classic held between 1998 and 1999 before it went into the cooler. But thank God that after 24 years absence, the Classic is back bigger,” began Orbih whose tenure at BFN has given the sport a new lease of life in the country.
He however admitted that for this edition, only the top ranked Men’s 16 and the Women’s 16 players will compete for the prize money at stake, stressing that from the next edition, all the other categories like the Men and Women’s doubles as well as the Mixed doubles will be featured.
“In the past, if you have not played the Ikoyi Club Classic, you have not yet played badminton in Nigeria. We are determined to make it the competition that top badminton players look forward to with excitement,” stressed the BFN Chief.
Interestingly, the return of the Classic has heralded the creation of a Badminton Hall of Fame, where personalities that have contributed to the growth of the sport in Nigeria would be appreciated and recognised.
“The idea behind the Badminton Hall of Fame is to recognise and appreciate those who have contributed to the game while they are alive and not when gone and no longer with us,” hinted Orbih who stressed that those to be honored will be unveiled on the final day of the event.
Chairman of the Badminton Section of Ikoyi Club 1938, Thomas Adeoye, expressed his excitement over the return of the Classic, stressing that the section will do everything to ensure that it holds annually without a break anymore.
Seven past chairmen of the Badminton section of the top club in Lagos were in attendance at the unveiling of the programme to give their support for the Classic.
Apart from the prize money of N500,000, N300,000 and N150,000 on offer for the winner, first runner up and the third place winner in the Men’s and Women’s categories, all players at this edition will get an amount for playing in the Classic, right from the round-robin in the group stage, quarter final, semi final and final.
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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