NAN-S-8
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos, July 28, 2017 (NAN) An Israeli international badminton player, Misha Zilberman, says that playing in Nigeria had always given him joy and luck.
Zilberman made the assertion in an interview with the news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after he defeated Ghana’s Michael Baah to reach the semi-finals at the ongoing 3rd Lagos International Badminton Classics on Friday.
Ziblberman, ranked No. 1 for the competition, has continued to shine after his heroics that crowned him in the 2015 edition, recorded 21-15, 21-14 wins over the Ghanaian.
Zilberman had also edged past A. Abdelkalim of India, 21-12, 21-18 in the final group match in a thrilling encounter.
The Israeli player, who has yet to drop a set in the competition, will play the competition’s number four seed Rahul Chitaborna who stopped Nigeria’s Joshua Odelabi, 18-12, 21-13 and 21-12.
“I love the competition and coming to play in Nigeria always brings good luck to me since I won the singles for men in the last edition.
“The best of players come here to play and the competition from the home-base players are always very tough as well, so one has to be very tough and be mentally ready.
“So, I’m looking forward to playing in the final match so as to maintain my profile and impress my coaches,’’ Zilberman told NAN.
Baah told NAN that coming to Nigeria has helped him to increase in his rankings and commended the organisers for putting Nigeria on the international badminton map.
“I’m happy to be in Nigeria, I always want to come here, though I lost to the number one seeded player in the competition but reaching the quarter-final stage is a wonderful experience,’’ Baah said.
In the other result of the day, Chitaborna was also too hot for Nigeria’s Anuoluwapo Opeyori, 21-17, 21-5 in the quarter-finals stage.
Opeyori said he was impressed with his performance and that he had garnered a lot of experience from the international circuit.
“I did my best and I’m impressed with my performance, it has been a worthwhile experience for me, I commend the organisers for the competition,’’ Opeyori said.
Meanwhile, the competition which began on July 26 reaches Day Three of the semi-final stage for singles men and women, doubles and in the mixed doubles.
The competition is holding at the Mobolaji Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Complex, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, while the final matches to crown the champions holds on July 29. (NAN)
BAO/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)