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Lagos International Badminton Classics Day Three: Epic Matches, Upsets, and Finals Line-Up Set
Joel Ajayi
The 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics (LIBC) reached fever pitch on Day Three as quarter-finals and semi-finals thrilled fans inside the Teslim Balogun Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere.
With 20 matches on schedule-and one walkover in the men’s doubles—the tournament delivered world-class rallies, dramatic upsets, and unforgettable spectacles, setting the stage for a blockbuster Final Day on August 30.
The Walkover Drama and a Marathon MatchThe day began with a rare walkover in the men’s doubles, as P. Ravikrishna and S. Romdtiani (UAE) advanced without lifting a racket after Kazakhstan’s D. Panarin and M. Tajibullayev failed to show.But it was the mixed doubles clash between Rawat/Maneesha and Sharma/Kanapuran (all India) that stole headlines.
The quarter-final stretched into a 2-hour, 2-minute battle, nearly matching the longest recorded badminton match in history (2 hrs 41 mins).
In the end, Rawat and Maneesha triumphed in a pulsating three-set thriller, 21-19, 9-21, 22-20, to the delight of the Lagos crowd.Nigerian Hope and HeartbreakNigeria’s Obanisola and Alabi thrilled home fans by defeating compatriots and tournament second seeds Ibere and Ukeh 21-19, 19-21, 21-19 in a tense all-Nigerian quarter-final.
Their dream run ended in the semi-finals against UAE’s Qathua and Sreejithparol, but hopes of a podium finish remain alive as they battle for third place.India’s Dominance in Women’s SinglesIndia’s strong showing in the women’s singles was confirmed as Kashyap, the tournament’s second seed, advanced to the final with a 21-19, 21-17 win over Indonesia’s world-ranked 191 Ramadhani Wiryawan.
She will face compatriot S. Lele, who crushed Sihag (India) in just 35 minutes (21-12, 21-12), setting up an all-Indian women’s singles final.Men’s Singles: Asia Takes Center StageJapan’s M. Koga and Indonesia’s P. Shujiwo booked their spots in the men’s singles final. Koga overcame Israel’s Dubovenko in three sets (17-21, 21-7, 21-8), while Shujiwo eliminated India’s M. Singh in another three-set battle (21-11, 20-22, 21-12).
Their clash promises fireworks as both chase glory and part of the improved $17,500 prize pool.Doubles Competition Heats UpUganda’s women’s doubles duo, Mbabazi and Kobugabe, fell short in their bid for a semifinal berth, losing to UAE’s in-form pair Sreejithparol and Qathua. The Emirati duo continue to look like strong contenders heading into the final rounds.
International Praise for Nigeria’s HospitalityAthletes and officials continued to commend the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for staging a world-class event, with the support of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA).
The smooth organization, vibrant Lagos atmosphere, and passionate crowd have underscored Nigeria’s growing reputation as a hub for elite badminton in Africa.“Day Three has given us classic matches that will be remembered for years,” said Tunde Kazeem BFN board member and technical director.
“From marathon rallies to underdog victories, the Lagos International Badminton Classics has shown the very best of our sport. Tomorrow’s finals will crown champions, but already, the tournament has been a triumph for badminton in Nigeria and Africa.
”With finals now set across singles and doubles categories, anticipation is building for Day Four – August 30, when the champions of the 2025 Lagos International Badminton Classics will be crowned.
Day Three- Top HighlightsMixed Doubles epic: Rawat/Maneesha (India) vs Sharma/Kanapuran (India) lasted 2h 02m, one of the longest matches in LIBC history.
Nigeria’s Obanisola/Alabi upset compatriots Ibere/Ukeh but lost semis to UAE’s Qathua/Sreejithparol; fight for bronze still alive.
Women’s Singles Final: All-India showdown as Kashyap faces S. Lele.Men’s Singles Final: Japan’s Koga vs Indonesia’s Shujiwo set for Sunday showpiece.Prize Pool: Improved purse of $17,500 adds extra incentive.
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CLTC DG Reaffirms FG’s Dedication to Nurturing Innovative, Productive Nigerian Youth
By Joel Ajayi
The Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Ms. Rinsola Abiola, has reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to raising young Nigerians who are productive, innovative, and imbued with patriotism, service, and integrity.
She gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja in her goodwill message at the ongoing two-day Retreat on Presidential Priorities and Deliverables — 2025 Mid-Term Review, where she also commended the Ministry of Youth Development, led by Hon. Ayodele Olawande, for championing youth-focused initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to Abiola, the retreat provides a unique opportunity to review and realign efforts to ensure that government policies and programmes translate into measurable impact in the lives of Nigerian youths.
“This retreat is both timely and strategic. It provides a platform to collectively review, align, and sharpen our focus on the priorities of Mr. President. More importantly, it allows us to deepen collaboration within the youth development sector to ensure that government policies deliver real change to our young people,” she said.
Highlighting the Centre’s achievements, Abiola disclosed that over 6,000 youths have been trained in value orientation and re-orientation in the just-concluded half-year period. She emphasized that the CLTC, with its long history of building citizenship values, leadership capacity, discipline, and volunteerism, remains steadfast in supporting the Ministry’s mandate and national priorities.
“We see ourselves as partners in this great task of nation-building. Our goal is to raise young Nigerians who are not only productive and innovative but also committed to the spirit of service, patriotism, and integrity,” she added.
Abiola urged stakeholders and participants at the retreat to bring forward actionable strategies that would strengthen coordination, eliminate bottlenecks, and accelerate delivery on presidential mandates.
She concluded by reaffirming CLTC’s readiness to collaborate with the Ministry and other agencies to advance youth development across Nigeria.
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