Anuoluwapo, Udewu qualify as national badminton classics enter quarterfinals

Anuoluwapo Opeyori

Nigeria’S number one seed, Opeyori Anuoluwapo of Lagos State, has been joined in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Ikoyi Club National Badminton Classics by Ibrahim Udewu (Bauchi), Victor Ikechukwu (Rivers) and Habeeb Bello.

The Classics is a two-in-one event that would also usher in the maiden National Basketball Hall Of Fame, which will hold tomorrow, which is the final day of the competition.

Excitement over the Hall of Fame has gripped the club since the Classics started on Wednesday at the Badminton Section of the Ikoyi Club 1938, with many retired and current players, as well as other stakeholders eager to witness the historic event.

The Classics has also witnessed some fierce competition, with Anuoluwapo and Udewu qualifying for the quarterfinals from Group A, while Ikechukwu and Bello emerged from Group B. They are joined by the nation’s second seed, Shehu Aliyu of Niger State and Emmanuel Joseph of Rivers State.

In the women’s category, Nigeria’s top seed and Mutual Benefit Assurance Badminton Championship queen, Edo State’s Ruth Ebere and seed 2, Deborah Ukeh, also from Edo State, are through to the quarterfinals.

Other women quarterfinalists are Naomi Tanko (Lagos), Sofiat Obanisola (Rivers), Jumoke Obasanmi (Lagos), Docas Adesokan (Ogun), Damilola Oyedepo (Oyo) and Aminat Ilori from Ogun State.

Meanwhile, president of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, has commended the Ikoyi Club Badminton Section for hosting the Classics. He assured stakeholders that tomorrow’s induction of a prominent badminton personally into the Hall of Fame will bring together some of the country’s best in the sport under one roof in the best interest of the game.

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