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
LEADERSHIP Newspaper’s Salifu Usman Receives SWAN Fellowship In Recognition Of Sports Development Efforts
Salifu Abubakar Usman, Group Sports Editor of LEADERSHIP Newspaper, has been honoured with the Fellow of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) award, in recognition of his exceptional support for the association, professional journalism, and his significant contributions to sports development in Nigeria.
The esteemed accolade was presented during SWAN’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration, held in Abuja, marking 60 years of excellence in sports journalism across the nation.
Upon receiving the award, Salifu expressed profound gratitude, describing the honour as a source of inspiration and renewed motivation to further his lifelong dedication to sports reporting, promotion, and growth.
“This award gives me hope and motivation to do more. It’s a source of inspiration for me and my family, and I believe it will encourage me further in sports reporting and sports development in Nigeria,” he stated.
Salifu highlighted that this recognition serves as a morale boost following decades of hard work and impactful contributions within Nigeria’s sports community and beyond.
The SWAN Diamond Jubilee Celebration attracted prominent figures from sports administration, the media, and government sectors to celebrate individuals and organisations whose efforts have significantly advanced sports development and journalism in Nigeria.
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