Badminton
Olympian, Oby Solaja, donates badminton equipment to Anambra Sports Commission for grassroot programs
BY IKENNA NWOKEDI
African Champion and Olympian, Oby Edoga Solaja as part of her contribution towards the promotion and development of the game in the state and geopolitical zone on Tuesday donated badminton equipment to the Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC).
The donation which was received by the Chairman, Directors and officers of the sports commission saw Nigeria’s first badminton player to feature at the Olympic Games donating 30 rackets, four shuttle tubes and four badminton nets for the growth of the game at the post-primary school level.
In her remarks, Oby Solaja stated her delight to give back to the state where she was discovered and nurtured to the big stage which metamorphosed into representing the old Anambra State at the National Sports Festival where she won gold and silver medals for the state and in furtherance became African Champion as well as playing at the biggest stage in sports, the Olympic Games.
Solaja stated that the game of badminton gave her the platform and leverage to nurse a career, represent the state and play the role of an ambassador at the global stage.
She disclosed that her aim is to discover talent, age bracket of 8 to 15 years, ensure that they have a solid background, encourage sustainability and continuity from Junior to intermediate and to the senior level.
She called on the ASSDC to empower the state coach, Chidi Onwe and other young enthusiastic tutors toward raising the next generation of stars in the state and beyond.
In his reaction, the Chairman ASSDC, Hon. Tony Oli, commended the former Nigerian champion and Olympian for her exploits, benevolence and philanthropic gesture.
Oli posited that badminton is one sports the commission pays attention to and that the commission is living up to the name in sports development as evidently seen in national sporting programs such as the National Sports Festival and National Youth Games.
The Aguleri-born banker turned sports administrator stated that the game of badminton will be projected via choosing schools from each of the Senatorial zones for the pilot project.
He concluded that the ASSDC will support Solaja’s quest to occupy a position in the aftermath of the elections into the board of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria.
Oby Edoga Solaja was discovered in old Anambra State in 1977 and was nurtured by retired Coach Unyanwa.
She represented the state at Kaduna ’77, Oluoye ’79 and Edo ’81 National Sports Festivals.
Solaja represented the nation at the All Africa Junior Championship in Mozambique and later became the National Women Champion from 1986 to 1996, and African Champion until her retirement after Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
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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