Badminton
MAURITIUS’ GEORGES PAUL’S THRONE UNDER THREAT AT AFRICAN BADMINTON TOURNEY
Africa’s number one and defending champion Georges Paul hasn’t been imperious in the ongoing All Africa Senior Badminton Championships and his men’s singles title will be under threat as the individual tournament begins.
Paul struggled a bit in the mixed team
championships as he dropped two sets in Mauritius’ route to the final of the
category and he will be under the radar in the men’s singles.
Nigeria has three seeded players with Anuoluwapo
Opeyori topping the list. The Africa’s number two is expected to go all the way
but it’s difficult to play down the ability of players like Godwin Olofua who
is seeded third, Habeeb Bello who reached the final in the last Championship in
Algeria and seeded eighth at the championship.
Experienced Clement Krobakpor, though unseeded,
is still a dangerous player and has the potential to stun everyone.
Melvin Appiah is another medal hopeful for
Mauritius, the lanky player is seeded seventh and has seen his game
improved impressively in the past one year.
It’s instructive to watch out for Egyptian
duo of Adham Elgamal and Ahmed Salah and sleeky Ghanian star Daniel Sam.
Opeyori is shouldering most of Nigeria’s hope
and the youngster said he wouldn’t disappoint.
“I want to win gold in all the events I
participate in, I know the expectations and I won’t disappoint,” he said.
His compatriot Bello has the same ambition when
he said, “Paul beats me in the final last year but I look forward to
meeting him here, I will beat him 2-0. I want to win the gold.”
In the women’s singles, top seed Kate Foo Kune
of Mauritius is still the player to beat but Nigeria’s Dorcas Adesokan, Hadia
Elsaid of Egypt, Chinenye Ibere and Doha Hany are expected to pull their
weight.
The duo of Opeyori and Olofua will have to prove
they are the best in the men’s doubles but have defending champions Mohamed Belarbi
and Adel Hamek to contend with.
The championships ends on Sunday.
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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