It was a disappointing game for Nigerian badminton players as they were dumped out of the male and female singles on Day 2 of the on-going Lagos International Badminton Classics.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian players, including the African number one, Dorcas Adesokan, were sent packing from the 25,000 dollars tournament.
Africa’s number one female player Adesokan who previously defeated Hadia Hosny from Egypt 21-18 and 21-16 was conquered by Thi Trang Vu by straight set, 21-10 and 21-13.
Adesokan’s counterpart, Tosin Atolagbe was defeated in the quarter-finals by Ozge Bayrak 21-4, 21-6 who also defeated Aminat Ilori by 21-10, 21-8 in the preliminary stage.
Also, Christopher Amin was defeated by Ksenia Polikarpova by straight set, 21-12, 21-4, while Chinyere Ibere was outclassed by Martina Repiska from Slovakia.
Soraya Aghaelihajiagha from Iran defeated Nigeria’s Felicia Omotola, while Louisa Ma from Australia got the better of Nigeria’s Ashilu Makir by 21-7 and 21-12.
In the mixed double, the duo of Nigeria’s Isaac Minaphee and Augustina Sunday were sent packing by Ramchandan Shiok and Rutaparma, 21-10, 21-15.
Nigeria’s players in the Women’s doubles and Men’s double, however, remained in the tournament as the duo of Godwin Olufua and Aanuoluwapo Opeyori defeated their counterpart, Abubakar Bakari and Sunday Musa, by 21-12 and 21-5.
Also in the Womens double, Deborah Opeyori and Deborah Ukeh qualified for the semi-finals as they beat Palwasha Bashir and Mahoor Shahzad from Pakistan, 21-19, 18-21 and 21-14.
The duo of Enejoh Abah and Isaac Minaphee from Nigeria also defeated their Nigerian counterparts of Mustaopha Muhammed and Daniel Philip by 21-15 and 21-14.
Also the defending champion of Lagos International Badminton Classics, Misha Zilberman from Israel, romped into the semi-finals after he defeated Resky Dwicahyo from Azerbaijan in straight set.
Zilberman told NAN that he was happy with his progress during the tournament, adding that the coast was almost clear for him to defend his title won last year.
“I am happy right now, although the tournament is tough because of more awareness of this championships.
“I have faced stiff competition and someone who is also good technically; I hope that I will win this tournament again.
“I must also commend the organisers for a job well done,” he said.
The Vice-President Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Mohammed Maina, on the under-performances of Nigerians players, said it was due to the standard of the competition.
“This is the most prestigious tournmanent in Africa and no other one comes so close, that is to tell you the caliber of the players that we have around.
“The standard of the game is improving on the daily basis and every year we find out that new set of players are coming in with their own new skills.
“Our players not reaching a particular level is telling us that we have a lot of things to do in Nigeria, we really have to put them into a lot of training to get them exposed,” he said.
