Orbih rates National Badminton Championship high

By Ifeanyi Eduzor
President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Frank Orbih says he’s excited with the level of play at the ongoing 4th edition of Mutual Benefit Assurance National Badminton Championship currently going on at the Gymnasium Hall of the National Institute For Sports (NIS), Lagos just as he commended the sponsor for bringing back the competition after a three year break.
The competition which was last held three years ago and put on hold because of the COVID- 19 Pandemic served off Wednesday, 28th November with the finals coming up on Saturday, December 2, 2023 and Orbih believes that the results they’re getting since the commencement of the tournament is an indication that the future of the game in the country is bright.
“I’m really excited with the turn out of players and their level of performance. “You know that this competition was put on hold for three years now and when players are training without competition, the training is as good as wasted and that’s why we at the Federation are happy with Mutual Benefit Assurance for bringing back the tournament.
“Since the game served off, we’ve witnessed many great performances and many young players are being discovered.
“It’s equally important to state that at this type of competition, some will try to get better and it’s an opportunity to have a clearer picture of who our top players are.
According to him, the competition will also serve as a veritable ground to keep players in top shape ahead the All Africa Games early next next year.
“The tournament is coming at the right time because we need to have the best that will be invited to camp ahead of the All Africa Games because we need to be there with a strong team.
” It’s also important to state that one of our own Anuoluwa Opeyori who is African champion and ranked 100 in the world is on his way to the Olympics and if that happens, he’ll be there back-to-back which has never happened before because it has always being a 12 year circle before you see any of our players at the Olympics.
“Him playing at the Olympics means that we will be participating at the Olympics men singles for the first time; which has never happened before and as a Federation, we want to keep the flag flying”, he stressed.
Orbih who said he want to be remembered as a President who came , made an impact and left the place better than he met it, announced that the Federation want to end the year on high; saying that in the next two weeks, all roads will lead to Ikoyi for the classics which they’re bringing back after 24 years and round of the year with the first ever Badminton Hall of Fame induction.