Opeyori Wins Ikoyi Badminton Classics

Reigning African Badminton Champion, Anuoluwapo Opeyori was on Saturday crowned winner of the 3rd edition of the Ikoyi Club National Badminton Classics which returned after 24 years absence.

The country’s top 36 players were invited for the championship based on their national rankings.

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The Nigeria number one player, defeated Victor Ikechukwu of Rivers State in the Men’s Singles final of the Classics 2-1 (21-12, 16-21, 21-10).

In the Women’s Singles, Ogun State player, Dorcas Adesokan did a soft work on Sofiat  Obanisola of Rivers State 2-0 ( 23-21, 21-18).

Habeeb Bello (Oyo) and Aliyu Shehu (Niger State) emerged as men’s joint 3rd placed winners while Deborah Ukeh and dethroned Mutual Assurance  Badminton Championship champion Ruth Ebere both from Edo State for the  joint 3rd placed winners.

Winners in both categories were rewarded with N500,000, N300,000 and N150,000 respectively. Semifinalists also smiled home with N100,000. All participants got N50,000 as appearance fees.

The highlight of the ceremony was the decoration  of Oba Adedapo Tejuosho (the Osile Oke Ona of  Egbaland) as the first badminton personality to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the sport in the country.

Oba Tejuosho was Chairman of then Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria (ABAN) between 1976 and 1989. ABAN later became Badminton Federation of Nigeria in 1991, three years after Oba Tejuosho tenure ended in charge of the country’s badminton.

Enthused by the revival of the sport under the watch of Barr. Francis Orbih, Oba Tejuosho poured encomiums on the sitting President, praying that he grows to lead the sport at the global level.

The Oba donated N2million to the Classic.

Punch/MTO