Badminton
PARA BADMINTON WORKSHOP: ORBIH HAILS KADUNA STATE, ABIA FIRST LADY
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih has commended the Kaduna State Government and the First Lady of Abia State, Nkechi Ikpeazu for their support for Para Badminton in Nigeria.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the third Africa Para Badminton Workshop at the weekend, the BFN boss stated that the involvement of the Kaduna state Government and the First Lady of Abia State in Para Badminton has helped in developing the sport in the country.
He called on other well-meaning individuals, states and corporate entities to emulate these good gestures and support Para-badminton in the country. “The efforts of the Kaduna State Government under Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Mrs Ikpeazu in Para badminton are well documented and we really appreciate what they have been doing.
“I will use this medium to call on other well-meaning individuals, states and corporate organisation for more support as we cannot do it on our own,” Orbih added.
Orbih also challenged the participants to go back to their various states and zones to practice what they have learnt at the workshop, which would help propagate the game all over the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Olusade Adesola also commended the BFN for the wonderful job they are doing in lifting the standard of the game in Nigeria. The NOC President Habu Gumel also applauded the BFN for organising the workshop, as it will help raise the standard of para badminton in Nigeria.
About 15 countries took part in the workshop, which had tutors, players, coaches and other officials in attendance. Friendly matches between players of the different para badminton classifications preceded the Closing Ceremony.
The instructors who were led by the BWF expert Anton Ivanov from Russia and BCA Development Manager Annirao Dajee from Mauritius rated the event very high and extolled the superlative qualities of the BFN President, who is doing everything possible to reposition the sport in the country and expose Nigerian players to top quality competitions all over the world.
Also in attendance at the closing ceremony were President of the Nigeria Shooting Federation Brigadier Gen. Adeoye Oladeyi rtd, a sizeable number of veteran players from Tobix Badminton Club Jahi led by the club’s chairman Sam Adingi.
Others were Alhaji Mohammed Maina, the Vice President of the BFN who was also the Chairman of the LOC of the event, Oby Solaja, Abel Ocholi Edicha, Isaac Ogbole all members of the Board of BFN and the immediate past Chairman of the Association of Badminton Clubs in Nigeria, ABCIN Alhaji Jibril Abubakar.
Badminton
Badminton chieftain, Orbih dreams of ‘born-again’ Lagos International Badminton Classic
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The Lagos International Badminton Classics may from the next edition step up to the next level with a reinvigorated government-private partnership initiative.
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Francis Orbih believes that the governments at all levels cannot fund sports alone and if sports need to develop the private sector also has a role to play in its development in the country.
Orbih made the call on Saturday while addressing newsmen during the closing ceremony of the 7th edition of the Lagos Badminton Classics which took place at the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall inside the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
“Nigeria players need more encouragement and support because you know it will be difficult for most of these players to travel out for this kind of championships.
“And that is why we try to make this event an annual event so that they can have that opportunity to play the game at this level” Orbih hinted.
“They need the exposure because without it, there is a limit to what you can do so we have to challenge them, and to whom much is given, much is expected, and it is the much we can give to them that determines the much we expect from them”.
“In giving this much, we need the private sector for sports to grow and develop because the government cannot do it alone” Orbih emphasized.
On the just concluded 7th edition of the tournament Orbih noted that the championship has lived up to his expectations even though the Federation can do better, and one practice which they have adopted is to surpass the performance of the previous edition while hosting a current edition.
He further added that Nigeria had a good outing as we reached some semifinals in some categories while the mixed doubles reached the finals.
“For the men’s singles, our number one player was edged out in the quarterfinal, and it was at this same level in last year’s edition that he was edged out”. “We thought he would have improved this year and reach the final but that was not possible but I am expecting that we will improve on his performance in the next edition” an optimistic Orbih added
Orbih did not fail to remind all that Opeyori’s rise to stardom in Nigeria and Africa as whole was a journey that started so many years ago and so much need to be done if the younger ones have to rise to his level in the future.
“A lot of people who see Opeyori today think he just got to this level over night”. “They do not know what he has gone through to become Africa’s number one. We as a federation need to go back to the age-grade tournament at the U12, U15 and U17 level so we can start preparing them with lots of exposure to attain his level”. “There is no magic and there is no short cut and if we need to get more players like Opeyori, we need to invest more at the age-grade level and that is it”.
He also did not fail to state that Opeyori started the Lagos Badminton Classics from its first edition in 2014 and it was his exposure over the years through the event and other championships that gave him the experience needed which made him qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
On India’s domination of the Lagos Badminton Classics, Orbih noted that India is a powerhouse as far as badminton is concerned and it is because this tournament has a lot of world ranking players that makes it good for Nigerian players to take part in it so that they can also acquire exposure too.
Badminton
It’s Indian delight at Lagos International Badminton Classic
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The Indians are having a swell time at the Lagos International Badminton Classic.
Not only did an Indian player, Samarveer responsible for Nigeria’s Anuoluwapo Opeyori’s ouster at the quarter-finals, the Indians have won the mixed doubles beating a Nigerian pair.
They were delighted at the relative ease of their accomplishment.
The duo of Kanapuram Sathwik Reddy and Khadkekarr Vaishnavi expressed their shock on how easy it was for them to beat Nigeria’s duo of Shehu, Alhaji Aliyu and Ukeh, Uchechukwu Deborah in the finals of the mixed doubles on home ground.
The game which was played on court two of the Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall on Saturday, saw the Indians record two straight wins against Nigeria to win 2-0 (21-12,21-14).
Speaking after the win, both players who were overjoyed about their wins expressed themselves.
“It’s my first time of playing in Nigeria” Reddy started “And am glad this game ended very well, we are happy to win and we never expected it would come this easy”
“When we reached the final and were going to play Nigeria we thought it was going to be very tough because of the home crowd, but it was not” he said.
Adding her voice a delighted Vaishnavi also appreciated the warm reception given by the host country in organizing the tournament.
“I am happy with the environment and reception here, the atmosphere is peaceful and the people are very nice, we feel very happy winning” she concluded.
The Indians who have dominated the finals of the doubles in previous editions edged Nigeria’s side to win the mixed doubles.
It will also be recalled that Nigeria’s duo of Shehu Alhaji Aliyu and Ukeh, Uchechukwu Deborah reached the finals of this edition without lifting their racket, as they walked over their French opponents who were ruled out due to arm injury.
Badminton
India Stops Nigeria From Reaching Final of Women’s Doubles
BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
Nigeria’s duo of Dorcas Ajoke and Ilori Aminat on Friday failed to reach the final of the women’s doubles of the Lagos Badminton Classic at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The duo suffered two straight defeats at the hands of India’s Singhi Simran and Selvan Kavipriya who defied the slim efforts made by the home fans to cheer the Nigerian sides to victory.
The game which was played on court 2 was however slightly disrupted by power supply barely five minutes of play but that did not stop the Asian side from getting the job done when power was restored.
In a later development, Nigeria’s duo of Shehu Alhaji Aliyu and Ukeh Uchechukwu Deborah also reached the final of the mixed doubles without lifting their rackets.
The duo benefited from a walk over which took them to the final after their French opponents of Maio Julien and Palermo Lea were ruled out due to arm injury.
The championship comes to a close this Saturday.
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