Badminton
BADMINTON OLYMPIC CHAMPION KNOCKED OUT AS TOKYO 2020 TEST EVENT BEGINS
BY DAN PALMER
Reigning Olympic champion Chen Long was knocked out in round one of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Japan Open, which this year is doubling as a Tokyo 2020 test event.
The Chinese fifth seed was beaten by Kanta Tsuneyama of the host nation who triumphed 21-14, 21-17 in front of his home fans.
All of the matches at the event, a Super 750 competition on the BWF World Tour, are taking place at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza venue which will host next year’s Olympic tournament.
There was more joy for Japan in the men’s draw as reigning world champion and world number one Kento Momota also booked his place in round two.
The top seed, who will be a huge home hope for gold at Tokyo 2020, knocked out Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus 21-17, 22-20.
Momota, who became the first home winner of the men’s event last year, was forced to miss the Rio 2016 Olympics as he was serving a ban for illegal gambling.
With second seed Shi Yuqi of China and third seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark both withdrawing from the tournament through injury, Chinese Taipei’s fourth seed Chou Tien-chen could be Momota’s nearest challenger.
Chou won the Indonesia Open, a Super 1000 event, on Sunday (July 21) and will begin his tournament tomorrow in the bottom half of the draw.
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia was among other winners today with the seventh seed beating Lu Guangzu of China 22-20, 21-16.
In the women’s draw Chinese Taipei’s top seed and world number one Tai Tzu-ying beat American Zhang Beiwen 21-17, 21-19 to progress.
Japan’s third seed Nozomi Okuhara, the 2017 world champion, also advanced as she beat compatriot Saena Kawakami 21-9, 21-17.
Thailand’s 2013 world champion Ratchanok Intanon, the seventh seed, was knocked out as Kim Ga-eun of South Korea claimed a 21-15, 21-13 win.
Second seed Chen Yufei of China and Japan’s fourth seed Akane Yamaguchi, the champion in Indonesia, are among the players who will begin their tournaments in the lower half of the draw tomorrow.
Spain’s reigning Olympic and world champion Carolina Marin has won the last two Japan Opens but is not competing after rupturing her cruciate ligament in January.
All of the Olympic test events are being held under the “Ready Steady Tokyo” banner with competitions in weightlifting, archery, surfing and road cycling having taken place so far.
The badminton will conclude on Sunday (July 28) with finals across the singles and doubles events.
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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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