Badminton
AFRICA BEST BADMINTON PLAYERS SHINE IN KWARA TOURNEY
There was excitement among badminton enthusiasts on Saturday in Ilorin when the Kwara State veterans brought the best hands in Africa, who incidentally were Nigerians, to the city.
Africa and Nigeria’s number one female player, Dorcas Adesokan and her male counterpart, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, Godwin Olofua and Daniel Christopher were in the ancient town for a novelty match in honour of the state chairman of the badminton Association, Suleiman Warah, who has been elevated to the position of Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers.
Adesokan defeated Zainab Alabi 2-1 in the women’s single final in one of the matches played at the Indoor Sports hall of Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin on Saturday.
She won the first game 21-13 but Alabi fought back gallantly to win the second game 22-20. However, Adesokan’s experience came to the fore as she won the third game 21-17.
In the men’s final, Africa number two and Nigeria number 1, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, defeated Habeeb Bello 2-0 in a high tempo match.
Opeyori won the first and second games 21-18, 21-18 showing the spectators why he is Nigeria number one and Africa number 2.
However, there was a major upset as Habeeb Bello, Africa number 15 defeated Godwin Olofua Africa number 3, 2-0 in an entertaining match.
Bello won the first game 21-13 and did better in the second beating Olofua 21-11 and drawing applause from the spectators and the hosts, the Kwara Badminton veterans.
The players got various sums as appearance fee as well as additional gift items.
On hand to grace the event was the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Francis Orbih Esq, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Youth and Sport, Mrs. Iyabo Funke Banire, the Kwara State Director of Sports Ibrahim Alarape, the celebrant Suleiman Warah, Chairman Kwara State Badminton Association and the former Kwara State Director of Sports who is also a board member of the BFN, Tunde Kazeem.
The BFN President congratulated the state badminton chairman on his elevation and commended the organisers for putting together such a wonderful event.
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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