Badminton
Thrills, Upsets as Lagos International Badminton Classics Serves Off in Style
The 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics (LIBC) got underway on a dramatic note on Wednesday, with 64 matches lighting up the Teslim Balogun Indoor Sports Hall in Surulere.
The opening day delivered all the ingredients of top-class badminton—drama, upsets, and flashes of brilliance—setting the stage for what promises to be a memorable tournament.
India, which boasts the largest foreign contingent at this year’s edition, was the dominant force of the day, recording victories across different categories.
One of the earliest talking points came when India’s L. Kalagotla cruised past Nigeria’s Rufai in just 18 minutes in the round of 64.
But in a dramatic twist, the men’s singles second seed, India’s Maisham, crashed out after a stunning straight-sets defeat (21-8, 21-9) to South Korea’s Yoo in the round of 32.
The biggest upset of Day One unfolded in the round of 16, as Indonesia’s Muhammad Yusuf shocked the tournament’s top seed, Switzerland’s N. Mueller, in a pulsating contest that lasted 42 minutes.
Equatorial Guinea’s O. Solomon added to the surprises by eliminating India’s sixth seed, Kalagotla, with a convincing 21-11, 21-18 win.
In the women’s singles, India’s T. Sharma edged past P. Bharath of the UAE, while Nigeria’s number one and tournament second seed, S. Obanisola, advanced after defeating compatriot Ilori.
Another Nigerian, O. Obasanmi, also moved on following a walkover win against America’s D. Gupta.
However, it was disappointing for Nigeria’s former number one, Dorcas Adesokan, who fell 21-13, 21-10 to India’s fifth seed, T. Mir, in the round of 32.
With India’s shuttlers firmly in control after the first day, the focus now shifts to whether they can sustain their dominance as the competition progresses.
Fans can look forward to more upsets, fierce rivalries, and world-class action as the Lagos International Badminton Classics 2025 gathers momentum.
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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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