Badminton
ANU OPEYORI REMAINS NIGERIA’S BADMINTON NUMERO UNO
The climax of the third Golden Star Katsina National Championship was as explosive as it was exciting.
The final matches heralded some predictable and some brand new champions. The Men’s Singles event produced Anuoluwapo Opeyori (LA/FRSC), winner of the last edition and still very much Nigeria Number One.
His teammate, friend and fiercest rival, Godwin Olofua (LA) could not play the scheduled final owing to ill health.
The excitement that greeted the end of the match that
produced the comeback queen, the gorgeous Grace Gabriel (PL) as the winner will
keep resounding for a long time to come.
She beat home girl, GSK’s Ruth C. Ibere 2-1 to clinch the coveted trophy and cash prize. Assisted from the sidelines by the former Nigerian International, Victor Makanju, she was absolutely astounding and very much the old former African Number One Women’s Singles player.
Earlier, the same Grace Gabriel had teamed up with the same Ruth C.
Ibere of GSK in the Women’s Doubles category to defeat the pair of Peace Orji-Abah and Juliet Jacob (OY/TR) to win the category’s gold.
The Men’s Doubles event was won by former African Number One, Jinkam I.Bulus (TR) who paired with young Daniel Phillip (AD) to produce a great blend of experience and youthful strength to defeat Eneojo Abah and Isaac Minaphee (DT) and send a clear challenge to the teeming young players around.
The Mixed Doubles event saw the consolidation of the dominance that the pair of Eneojo Abah (DT) and his beautiful wife Peace Orji-Abah has enjoyed in recent years. Ranked Number 1 in Nigeria and Number 2 on the continent, this pair ensured that the pair of Aliyu Alhaji Shehu and Maryam Umar (NG) could only take the silver back home.
The standard of the game was quite impressively high and the camaraderie and sportsmanship exhibited during the course of the championship made all the efforts pumped into the preparations and actual execution of the tournament worthwhile.
The closing ceremony was graced by an impressive number of dignitaries among which was the representative of the Emir of Katsina, the Yandakan Katsina and District Head of Dutsinma, Alhaji Sada Mohammed Sada and a host of other dignitaries.
Delivering his speech before the presentation if prizes to the winners, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, expressed his board’s appreciation to the management of the Golden Star Katsina Badminton Club and paid glowing tribute to it’s able founder, Grand Patron and Financier, Alhaji Malik Anas for his enormous and unquantifiable contribution’s to the growth and development of the game in the country.
Presentations were made of medals, trophies and prize monies to the winners and two Special Awards were handed out by the Badminton Federation of Nigeria to Alhaji Malik Anas and the Golden Star Badminton Club.
Team Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in African para badminton, emerging overall champions at the Africa Para Badminton Championships 2025, which concluded on Sunday at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.
The hosts were in a class of their own, sweeping an impressive 36 medals — including 10 gold, 13 silver, and 13 bronze — to finish far ahead of other participating nations.
Kenya’s National Olympic Committee secured second place with 11 medals (four gold, two silver, and five bronze), while Egypt rounded off the top three with eight medals (three gold, one silver, and four bronze).
The Republic of Benin followed in fourth with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, and the Democratic Republic of Congo placed fifth with one gold and two bronze. Tunisia came sixth with one silver and one bronze, while Cameroon claimed seven place after collecting six bronze medals.
Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and Rwanda each won two bronze medals to complete the top 10, while Mauritius earned one bronze medal. Only Mozambique finished without a medal among the 12 participating countries that featured in 19 events during the week-long championship, which began on October 7.
Nigeria’s gold medalists included several standout performers: Eniola Bolaji, Africa’s undisputed queen of para badminton; Chigozie Nnanna, Chukwuemeka Eze, Ijeoma Chukwuemeka, Mary Nathan, Chinyere Okoro, Munkwoba Goman, and Bello Tukur.
Notably, Bolaji, Nnanna, and Nathan had also captured gold at the First Abia Para Badminton International held at the same venue a week earlier, from September 30 to October 5, underscoring their consistency and dominance.
Nigeria’s silver medalists included Odinachi Uwalaka, Obinna Nwosu, Ifeanacho Ohaeri, Ebikoboere Brown, Abel David, James Akpan, and Nendimwa Monday, among others.
At the colourful closing ceremony, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State hailed the athletes for their courage, skill, and sportsmanship. Represented by Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, Otti praised the event as a landmark achievement for Nigeria and the continent.
“We have learned, improved, and been inspired. And let me assure you — Abia will bid to host again, and when we do, we will offer an experience that will far surpass this pioneering effort,” he said.
Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), lauded the para athletes for embodying the spirit of resilience and human dignity through their performances.
“Our para athletes have shown that sport is a powerful expression of ability, resilience, and human dignity,” Orbih said, extending appreciation to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) for their support and guidance.
Orbih also commended the Abia State Government for providing a world-class venue and a welcoming atmosphere that fostered friendship and unity among participants.
The Africa Para Badminton Championships 2025 not only crowned Nigeria as continental champions but also showcased the nation’s capacity to host international sporting events of the highest standard — a milestone that officials say will serve as a springboard for future competitions on African soil.
MEDAL TABLE
| Country | Position | Medals | Total No. of Medals | ||
| No. of Gold Medals | No. of Silver Medals | No. of Gold, Bronze Medals | |||
| Nigeria | 1st | 10 | 13 | 13 | 36 |
| Kenya | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| Egypt | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Benin | 4th | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Congo | 5th | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Tunisia | 6th | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Cameroon | 7th | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Zimbabwe | 8th | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Burkinafaso | 9th | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Rwanda | 10th | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mauritius | 11th | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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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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