Expect fireworks at Lagos international badminton classics- Orbih

Ifeanyi Eduzor

President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria Francis Orbih is optimistic that this year’s Lagos International Badminton Classics will witness quality play considering the calibre of players that are participating in the championship.
The classics served off Wednesday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere Lagos and Orbih believes that the quality of play seen in the qualifying series is an indication that nothing less than hotly contested matches will characterize the tournament which will be rounded up on Saturday, September 2.
” We’ve already seen some quality games in the qualifying series and people should expect nothing less than fireworks and hotly contested matches as the tournament progresses because of the quality of players from all parts of the world that are contesting for honours in the classics.
On the chances of Nigerian players garnering points at the classics that will qualify athletes for Paris 2024 Olympics, he was emphatic that apart from Anuoluwa Opeyori who is the African champion and ranked 100, in the world, it might be difficult for any other Nigerian player to make it to the Olympics but was quick to add that the good thing is that most Nigerian players are now building confidence in the game and gradually gaining the required experience to make them progress further in the sports.
” To tell you the truth, the chances of our players are very slim because we have a few Nigerians who are playing internationally and it’s the number of international matches you play that contributes to your qualification for the Olympics.
” When we started, we knew it was going to be very difficult because our players doesn’t have the required experience and exposure but we’re expecting better performance from them.
“But you will also agree with me that over the years, we’ve had three players who went to the Olympics and a few who are playing at the international scene and as such the inferiority complex is no longer there”, he explained.
Orbih while commending Lagos State Government for it’s support in hosting the classics, appealed to government at all levels to invest more in the sports and corporate Nigeria to compliment government efforts towards sports development.
“There is no denying the fact that sports boosts the economy of other countries but in Nigeria the reverse is the case. My appeal is that corporate organisations should support government efforts and invest more in sports because government cannot do it alone.
“I’m happy that there is now National Sports Industry Policy but the problem is that we have a lot of good policies on paper but implementation has always been the problem”, he concluded.