Sports
Lagos International Badminton Classics: Upsets Halt India’s Momentum as Global Stars ShineLagos, Nigeria
The 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics entered its second day in thrilling fashion, with 42 matches across four courts delivering a mix of upsets, drama, and brilliant shot-making at the Teslim Balogun Indoor Sports Hall.
1 Athletes praised the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for its warm hospitality and seamless organization, as the tournament continued to attract attention both locally and internationally.After a dominant Day One, India’s momentum slowed on Day Two, particularly in the men’s singles.
Kalagotla (India) advanced with a 21-12, 21-18 victory over Slovakia’s Drata, but elsewhere it was a tough outing for the Indian contingent.
Poland’s world-ranked 165 Kwinta stunned India’s Walter in a tight contest, 21-17, 22-20, while Indonesia’s P. Shujiwo ousted India’s Negi 22-20, 21-17 to book his place in the Round of 16.Nigeria’s challenges also continued. In mixed doubles, the pair of Jovita Chisom and O. Miracle fell to India’s Bhatnagar and Balachandra 21-9, 21-5.
In women’s singles, Nigeria’s O. Obasanmi was beaten in the Round of 16 by India’s Shiagin, ending her run.Other highlights of the day included Korea’s Park GE powering past the Philippines’ Sreejith Parol in the women’s singles Round of 16 to secure a quarterfinal berth, while Japan’s M. Koja upset India’s fifth seed Bharadwaj 21-15, 21-19 in a gripping encounter.
The day’s final blow for India came when Indonesia’s world-ranked 342 Muhammad Yusuf, fresh from his giant-killing act on Day One, defeated S. Dayanand (India) 21-12, 21-15 to cap a difficult outing for the South Asian powerhouse.
With quarterfinal and semifinal spots up for grabs on Day Three, the Lagos International Badminton Classics is building towards a dramatic climax as shuttlers continue their quest for glory in Lagos.
Top Performers – Day Two Highlights*Muhammad Yusuf (Indonesia) – World No. 342 continues giant-killing run, defeats India’s Dayanand.M. Koja (Japan) – Stuns India’s 5th seed Bharadwaj in women’s singles thriller.
Park GE (Korea) – Dominates Philippines’ Parol to secure quarterfinal ticket.Kwinta (Poland, WR 165) – Pulls off upset against India’s Walter in straight sets.P. Shujiwo (Indonesia) – Outlasts India’s Negi to advance to Round of 16.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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