Ifeanyi Eduzor
Chairman of badminton section of Ikoyi Club 1938, Thomas Adeoye says that the section will continue to encourage grassroots development of the racket game through it’s yearly clinic.
He disclosed this Saturday, August, 26, 2023 during the just concluded Summer clinic put together by the club to teach kids the basic rudiments of the game.
According to him the annual clinic has helped not only in galvanizing interest in the game among youths but has also led to the discovery of talents who are presently doing the country proud at the international stage.
“I’m happy with the turn out of the kids and the enthusiasm they showed in learning the basic principles of the game. You know we’ve been holding this Summer Clinic every year and one of the products of this programme is currently making waves at the international level and we’ll continue the developmental programme because the result has been very encouraging”, he stated.
He however appealed to parents to always allow their children and wards to come for regular training as that will help in sharpening their skills in the sports.
“One of the major challenges we’re having is parents releasing their children to come for practice. For us at the section we would have loved to be having this clinic quarterly because we believe that with regular training, these kids will be great in the game and that’s why we are appealing to parents to allocate more time for their children to learn the basic principles of badminton.
” I noticed that in swimming, some children come around very early in the morning for training and kids interested in badminton can emulate them and come early for training before going to school and even after closing from school.
” The advantage is that it will not only make them better players in future but when they get to school, they will be mentally alert to do their school work.
Adeoye also used the opportunity to commend President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih for the great job he’s doing to move the game forward in the country
In his remarks, Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Chief Tafa Zibiri- Aliu commended the badminton section of the club for a successful organisation of the clinic which he said has been very helpful in talent hunt for the country.
He explained that the clinic is part of efforts by all the sections of the club to develop sports at the grassroots, with a promise that the momentum will be sustained.
Chairman Lagos State Badminton Association, John Duru explained that the classic has created a platform for more children to be involved in the game of badminton with assurance that the association will continue to partner with the club in grassroots development of the game.
He was also emphatic that grassroots development of the game is key to success and podium finish at international competitions; saying that African no 1 player, started the game at the age of 9 and as such embracing the game early is key to success.
Duru further explained that as part of his association’s effort at developing the game, the Lagos U-15 youth championship will be held after the Lagos Badminton Classic which is holding from August 30- September 2.
” We at the Federation are doing a lot to further develop the game. Immediately after the Lagos Classics, the Lagos U-15 youth championship will be held and it will encourage some of these kids not only to learn more about the game but also compete among their peers”, he concluded.
