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Africa Best Badminton Players Shine In Kwara Novelty Tourney
There was excitement among badminton enthusiasts on Saturday in Ilorin when the Kwara State veterans brought the best hands in Africa, who incidentally were Nigerians, to the city.
Africa and Nigeria’s number one female player, Dorcas Adesokan and her male counterpart, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, Godwin Olofua and Daniel Christopher were in the ancient town for a novelty match in honour of the state chairman of the badminton Association, Engr Suleiman Warah, who has been elevated to the position of Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers.
Adesokan defeated Zainab Alabi 2-1 in the women’s single final in one of the matches played at the Indoor Sports hall of Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin on Saturday.
She won the first game 21-13 but Alabi fought back gallantly to win the second game 22-20. However, Adesokan’s experience came to the fore as she won the third game 21-17.
In the men’s final, Africa number two and Nigeria number 1, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, defeated Habeeb Bello 2-0 in a high tempo match.
Opeyori won the first and second games 21-18, 21-18 showing the spectators why he is Nigeria number one and Africa number 2.
However, there was a major upset as Habeeb Bello, Africa number 15 defeated Godwin Olofua Africa number 3, 2-0 in an entertaining match.
Bello won the first game 21-13 and did better in the second beating Olofua 21-11 and drawing applause from the spectators and the hosts, the Kwara Badminton veterans.
The players got various sums as appearance fee as well as additional gift items.
On hand to grace the event was the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Francis Orbih Esq, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Youth and Sport, Mrs. Iyabo Funke Banire, the Kwara State Director of Sports Ibrahim Alarape, the celebrant Engr. Suleiman Warah, Chairman Kwara State Badminton Association and the former Kwara State Director of Sports who is also a board member of the BFN, Mallam Tunde Kazeem.
The BFN President congratulated the state badminton chairman on his elevation and commended the organisers for putting together such a wonderful event.
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NSF: Oparaoji, Ekpeyong, Quadri Gear Up for Tough Quarterfinal Clashes in Abeokuta
Joel Ajayi
The tennis courts at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta are buzzing with intensity as the competition hits the quarterfinal stage in both the men’s and women’s singles events, following a gripping round of 16.
Men’s Singles Quarterfinals:
Abubakar Yusuf of FCT will square off against Rivers State’s Abua Canice. Yusuf booked his spot with a 4-0, 4-2 win over Ehigiamusoe Endurance of Edo, while Canice cruised past Azi David 4-1, 4-0.
Bayelsa’s Uche Oparaoji faces Adeleye Daniel of Ekiti in a clash of skill and strategy. Oparaoji outclassed Urenyang Nuhu of Taraba 4-1, 4-2, just as Adeleye powered past Kaduna’s Ibrahim Sulaiman with the same scoreline.
In one of the most anticipated ties, Danjuma Lucky (FCT) will lock horns with Bayelsa’s top seed David Ekpeyong. Danjuma came through a thrilling contest against Ekiti’s Abamu Matthew, rallying to win 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, while Ekpeyong dominated Taraba’s Rubi Toba 4-0, 4-2.
Home favourite Christopher Bulus of Ogun will battle Edo’s Michael Chima for a semifinal ticket. Bulus swept past Rivers’ Timibra Godsgift 4-1, 4-0, while Chima triumphed over Delta’s Iloputa Ikechukwu in a straight-set win.
Women’s Singles Quarterfinals:
Delta’s Barakat Quadri, fresh off a 4-1, 4-0 win over Rebecca Ekpeyong of Bayelsa, will face rising star Emmanuel Bright of the IJA (Invited Junior Athletes), who overcame Rivers’ Maxwell Timipre 4-2, 5-3.
Edo’s Omotayo Blessing will battle Akwa Ibom’s Udoffa Mary in what promises to be a fiery encounter. Omotayo brushed aside Ekiti’s Adeusi Jesutoyosi 4-0, 4-1, while Udoffa outplayed Moses Favour of Kaduna 5-3, 4-0.
Elsewhere, Ogunjobi Success of Ekiti will test her mettle against Aina Goodnews of IJA, and Akwa Ibom’s Etoro Bassey faces Ogun’s Yakubu Ohunene in a South-South vs South-West showdown.
With the quarterfinals locked in, tennis fans are in for a thrilling ride as the battle for medals intensifies under the Abeokuta sun.
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