NAN-S-6
Badminton
By Babatunde Oguinrinde (Wrap up)
Lagos Dec. 12, 2016 (NAN) The maiden four-day Lagos Governors South-West Badminton Championships has not only kept the players busy for the first time in the year but enrich them with fantabulous cash prizes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 100 top-rated players participated in the event that begun on Dec. 7 and ended on Dec. 10 in electrifying atmospheres at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports complex, Yaba.
The event is the only competition staged in the outgoing year which gave players the opportunity to heave a sigh of relief having waited all year for a competition to showcase their talents.
Lagos state’s Godwin Olofua showed just enough stamina and resolve to emerge the men’s singles winner over impressive Habeeb Bello of Oyo State on a 2-1 (21-17, 18-21 and 21-19) score line.
In the men’s doubles category, Lagos duo of Anuoluiwapo Opeyori and Godwin Olofua overpowered Oyo State’s Habeeb Bello and Umar Sadiq, 2-0 (21-13 and 21-12) to seal the first place prize.
Toyin Atolagbe from Ogun was short of energy as she succumbed to the resilience of Oyo State’s Zainab Momoh to lose 1-2 (21-18, 19-21 and 17-21) in the women’s singles category.
Also, the duo of Tosin Atolagbe and Dorcas Adesokan emerged the winner of women doubles category after defeating Zainab Momoh and Peace Orji, 2-1 (21-15, 13-21 and 21-12).
In the U-15 category, Ekiti claimed the first prize through Roland Okunola in the boys’ category, halting the progress of Kelvin Soyanolu, 2-0 (21-8, 21-10) as Ogun State claimed the U-15 girls’ category.
Ogun’s Omolade Alade beat her fellow state counterpart, 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) to claim the first prize.
The first prize winners received N150, 000 for their efforts, while second prize winners went home with N100, 000 each as N75, 000 was offered to third prize winners.
All the players in the competition also had some gifts such as rackets and sports shoes to take home for participating in the competition.
In their reactions the players expressed joy and appreciation for the competition and heaped praises on the organisers, Lagos State Badminton Association for hosting the event.
“We are happy, if not for Lagos State it would have been a terrible year where we did not have any event to showcase our talents,’’ Olofua the men’s singles champion said.
“I really appreciate what the state is doing, we train hard all year and it would have been a disaster if we don’t attend a competition to express our abilities,’’ Momoh, the women’s singles champion said.
The duo of Atolagbe and Adesokan thanked the state and urged the Badminton Federations of Nigeria (BFN) to put their house in order for the sake of badminton’s growth
“It is sad that there was no competition to keep players in good shape; things have to change as this is bad for the development of the sport.
“We are grateful for the leadership role of Lagos State for always showing passion for the future of the sport and staging competitions to keep us busy,’’ Atolagbe said.
Francis Orbih, the chairman, Lagos State Badminton Association, told NAN that the event was a tremendous success, especially the U-15 category which showed their brilliance and their passion for badminton.
“We are happy for the successful event; the competition has captured the target which is to give our players who have been training all year the opportunity to showcase their capabilities.
“I am quite impressed with the way the U-15 players proved their worth; they really showed that the future of the sport in Nigeria is very bright.
“The competition is here to stay, we look forward to the next edition which will come up in 2017,’’ Orbih said. (NAN)
BAO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)