Badminton
ZUMA RULES CITYGATE INTERCLUBS BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIP
BY BEN NWAKALOR.
Zuma Badminton Club, Suleja emerged the winners of the Citygate 2017 Badminton Championship at the Abuja National Stadium Package B.
The club, with two gold and two silver medals led all the others as the tourney came to a close amidst pomp and pageantry.
In becoming the overall winners of the second edition of the tournament, Zuma Club became the custodian of the Legacy Cup donated by Legacy Pension Limited.
Host club, Citygate Badminton Club, Abuja settled for the second position, winning a gold medal a silver and two bronze medals.
Multipurpose Badminton Club of Bauchi with medal-haul of a gold, silver and bronze placed third.
The highlight of the championship was the mixed doubles final that had the home duo of Muhammad “Ayo” Idris and Lola Ogunleye slug it out with Usman Afolabi and Jumoke Ahmed of Kwara Stadium Badminton Club.
In the keenly contested match the home pair emerged victorious. The men doubles final was won by the brothers – John and Francis Mella of Zuma Badminton Club Suleja.
The defending champion of the event, Maina Mohammed who incidentally is the Vice President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) had to pull out after the first round of games due to a back injury sustained by his partner.
Esther Daniel and Initorufa Tolu of Multipurpose Badminton Club, Bauchi, won the women doubles event.
The Special guest of the competition was Adesola Olusade, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youths and Sports.
Other dignitaries at the event were Francis Orbih, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) president, accompanied by his deputy, Maina Mohammed and Gabriel Gbayan, a board member and Chairman, FCT Badminton Association.
The President of the Shooting Federation of Nigeria Gen. Lonsdale Adeoye (rtd), Benjamin Abeh, Assistant Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Dr Nasir, Chairman Kebbi State Badminton Association, and Jibril Ibrahim Abubakar, Chairman ABCIN were also in attendance.
The Special guest of the competition Adesola Olusade, in his remark commended the organizers for putting together such an elaborate event, and highlighted some of the gains of the game of badminton and other sports as a form of healthy lifestyle.
He also stated the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung was committed to developing all sports in the country by providing good facilities, hence rehabilitation work on the Abuja National Stadium Facility will commence shortly.
The BFN President in his goodwill message appreciated the efforts of the CGBC as well as all other badminton clubs in helping to develop and promote the game of badminton as a sport that can be enjoyed by all.
He also spoke on plans by the BFN to host a national badminton festival next year that will require clubs to register players to compete in both active and veteran categories.
The organisers of the Championship also presented recognition awards to individuals and corporate bodies that have contributed to the growth of badminton.
Some of the awardees were Justice Danlami Senchi – President Badminton Confederation of Africa, Francis Orbih – President Badminton Federation of Nigeria, HRH Mai Abubakar Umar Suleiman OFR – Emir of Bade.
Others are Alhaji Saidu Uba Malami –Developments Chairman Solid Mineral Development Fund, Benjamin Abeh- ACG NigServices.com Services.
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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