‘Badminton banks on Anu’s resilience for success in Paris’

It is not all the time that a particular individual embodies the hopes of a society the way badminton star, Anu Opeyori, is cast. Here is a young man, who a few years ago was sitting listless in the slums of Makoko, Lagos, with little or no idea of what the future had in store for him.

But today, Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori has become the symbol of all that is good in Nigerian sports: resilience, hard work, perseverance and the will to win even against all manner of odds.

From July 26, the young man, simply known as Anu, will begin a journey many in African badminton cycle believe will lead to the continent’s first medal at the Olympic Games.

Such is the height of expectations on this lad’s shoulders that the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) last weekend held a sendforth dinner for him at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event drew the who-is-who in Nigerian sport, including sponsors and corporate bodies, who came to know what the fuss was all about. They all left the venue dreaming of watching the country’s entry at the biggest sporting spectacle of the year.

Explaining the significance of the occasion, BFN President, Francis Orbih, said the event christened ‘From Makoko to Paris: A Farewell Dinner for Anu Opeyori,’ was organised to get the player in the right mode as he begins a training tour of Italy and also to create awareness for badminton beyond the guest gathered at the venue.

Orbih also said the event was aimed at appreciating the contributions of sponsors to the successes recorded by the federation. He explained: “All our sponsors are here and we believe that prospective sponsors will see what we are doing and key in to badminton.”

Orbih justified the high premium placed on Anu’s expected