Badminton
BADMINTON QUEEN, DORCAS DEPARTS FOR TRAINING CAMP IN DENMARK
Nigeria’s number one female badminton player, Dorcas Adesokan has departed Nigeria for Denmark for a month training camp where she will be taking part in some competitions as she aims to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Dorcas who is the defending champion of the National Championships in Nigeria, the 1st Katsina Golden Star Badminton Championship and Mutual Benefits Badminton Championship which took place in Lagos state in 2017 is set to continue her dominance in 2018 but will be expecting a fight from the likes of Deborah Ukeh of Edo State and Zainab Momoh.
Speaking to www.badmintonnigeria.org Dorcas hailed the present board of the Federation led by Francis Orbih for engaging the players in international and national competitions.
“I am elated because the players are now having quality tournaments. Four top players returned from a training tour in Indonesia six days ago where they spent 63 days and today I am travelling to Holland for at least 31 days.
“As you know I don’t talk much but will let the shuttle and racket do the talking”, she remarked. Dorcas who recently got the sum of five million naira from the Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, is expected back in the country next.
Meanwhile, the six Para-Badminton players to the just concluded Uganda International Badminton championship and the Africa senior Para-Badminton championship in Kampala have been hailed by the BFN board and also praised the wife of Abia State Governor, Nkechi Ikpeazu for her support to the tournaments.
The team, led by Vice President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria Muhammad Maina, returned with 19 medals to the country on Sunday.
One of the six players, Seyi Dada Dixon who won two gold medals and ranked number one in Africa in his WH Wheel Chair 2 category expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress in the two championships.
He told www.badmintonnigeria.org that the competition at the Uganda International, as expected, was very tough and the players won a gold, three silver and three bronze medals.
“The two championships were very tough and good for the players but the team won more medals in the Africa Senior Para-Badminton championship. Winning 19 medals comprising eight gold, eight silver and three bronze medals was a remarkable one for us.
“We hope to set a better target than this next year”. Other players who competed in the championships are Bello Oyebanji Rafiu (SL 4), Chukwuebuka Sunday Eze (SL 3), Umar Baba Pate (SU 5), Ijeoma Gift (SL 3) and Chinyere Lucky Okoro (SL-4).
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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