As the third edition of the Bet9ja South East Badminton Championship in Enugu enters its second day, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has reaffirmed its commitment towards developing and promoting sports in every state of the federation, saying that the country has the potential to do well in any major championship.

The South East Zonal representative on the BFN board, Mrs Obiageli Edoga Solaja made the disclosure during the opening ceremony of the 3rd edition of the championship being fuelled by Bet9ja Foundation.

She stressed that the primary target for putting up such competition was to develop and nurture talented players from the region to stardom, thereby giving them the opportunity to be ranked among the top players in the country.

Emeka Ofora (right), Bet9ja Super Agent in Enugu lends support to the Gospel according to Badminton

The 1996 Atlanta Olympics player further hinted that Bet9ja championship is featuring  over 60 players from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States competing for the star prize in the men and women events, men and women doubles, mixed doubles and Veterans categories, just as winners and outstanding players would be rewarded with cash prizes and incentives.

On his part, Coach of Team Enugu, Ifejika Godswill noted despite the competition witnessing both experienced and quality players, the state team will give a good account of themselves.

Meanwhile, some of the results from day 1 activities saw Bright (Enugu) defeat Divine (Ebonyi) (21-18, 21-16), David (Anambra) outsmart Ebuka in two straight sets of 21-17, 21-18.

Indeed, Jovita (Anambra) proved too hot handle as he controlled and dominated the game against his fellow state counterpart, Chibuike also in two straight sets of 21-13, 21-13, while the game between Sochima (Enugu) and Nonso (Abia) gave the fans something to cheer as both players fought for every point, but at the end, the Enugu player scaled through with a 2-1 set (16-21, 21-19, 21-15).

The thre-day Championship which is the innovation and concept of the Southeast East Zonal Badminton Outreach, endorsed by the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, BFN, is being sponsored by Bet9ja Foundation

Recall that Badminton made history for the country and Africa at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, as Mariam Eniola Bolaji became the first African athlete to win a badminton medal at the Paralympic Games.

Again, the five eastern states of Nigeria are gathering for an annual badminton championship powered by the lead bookmaker company in Nigeria, through its foundation, the Bet9ja Foundation.

Running from Monday through Wednesday, the championship will feature contests among senior men and women as well as the veterans.

Holding at the indoor sports hall of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, it is the third time since 2022 that the championship under the platform of Bet9ja is taking centre stage.

“We are committed to this as it is part of our cardinal programmes, remarked Adaobi Cuomo, the Vice Chairman, Bet9ja Foundation. According to her, the Bet9ja Foundation is committed to improving the lives of Nigerians across the country through a variety of programs and initiatives that address the unique needs of diverse communities.

The Bet9ja South East Badminton Championship is just one of the numerous projects as the foundation strives “to provide access to quality healthcare, support educational opportunities, promote sports development, facilitate community projects, and empower youth to achieve their full potential”, Adaobi Cuomo remarked.

Explaining further, Yetunde Osunnuga, the Bet9ja Agents Liaison Officer revealed that the foundation at the moment has 160 projects in over 31 states in Nigeria and is impacting 150 communities with an investment that is over N587 million.

Yetunde Osunnuga, the Bet9ja Agents Liaison Officer

The Bet9ja South East Badminton Championship is already yielding results. A product of the last  edition, Jeremiah Chigozie ruffled feathers at the Paris 2024. Though physically challenged, Chigozie used the second edition of the championship to perfect his acts and became the first Nigerian male player to make it to the global event.

The Bet9ja Southeast Badminton sensation dispatched Marcel Adam of Germany in two straight sets of 21-12; 21-15 in a match that lasted 28 minutes at Paris 2024 Paralympics.

 He is back again at the third edition of the annual festival of rackets and shuttles. He is not the only star to watch out for.

Anambra State’s  Jovita Anakwe and Queen Chibuzor now featuring for Abia State are the singles’ champions in the previous editions.

They are back with more vigour in this edition.

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.