Team Nigeria have emerged champions of the 2019 All Africa Senior Badminton Championships, which ended in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Nigeria won four gold medals, two silver and one bronze to top the medal table.
The team had earlier secured the most coveted gold medal in the team event on and followed that up with further three gold medals in the individual championships.
Top stars Anuoluwapo Opeyori and Dorcas Adesokan produced superb performances after they dethroned Georges Paul and Kate Foo Kune from Mauritius in the men’s and women’s singles respectively.
Mauritius’ Kune had reigned as African champion since 2014; she even beat Adesokan in the final of the last edition in Algeria, but she was defeated 21-12, 21-13 in the final of women’s singles.
In the men’s singles, Godwin Olofua, ranked third in Africa, had shockingly defeated top seed, Paul, in the semifinals to set up all Nigerian affairs final with Opeyori.
It was a thrilling encounter between two friends and mates but Opeyori won 21-17, 16-21, 21-17 to claim his maiden African title.
It was also an Nigerian affairs in the women’s doubles as the pair of Adesokan and Deborah Ukeh defeated Amin Christopher and Chinenye Ibere.
In the mixed doubles, Algeria’s duo of Koceila Mammeri and Linda Mazri successfully defended the title they won last year at home when they defeated Nigeria’s Enejo Abbah and Peace Orji 15-21, 21-16, 21-18.
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the 2019 All Africa Senior Badminton Championships and the performance of Team Nigeria.
He announced a reward of $10,000 for Team Nigeria for their efforts in the competition.
“The President of the Badminton Confederation of Africa just told me that this is the best tournament they have ever conducted; that’s is a every encouraging one.
We are happy to grab the opportunity of hosting this event and our government will continue to support badminton and of course sports in general.”
