Winners of the 4th Lagos International Badminton Classics will go home with more money as the prize money of the championship has been increased from $20,000 to $25,000 in this year’s competition.
The Classics will hold from hold from July 18 to 21, 2018 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
The event is sponsored by the Lagos State Government and organised by the Lagos State Badminton Association, with the President of Nigeria Badminton Federation Barrister, Francis Orbih, serving as the Chairman of Local Organising Committee.
No fewer than 22 countries had registered to participate in this year’s edition, some of which are Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Israel, Ivory Coast , Benin Republic, Czech Republic, India, Malaysia and Nigeria, the host country, while 193 players across the world will be competing, comprise 60 from Nigeria and 133 foreign players.
The prize money had been raised from $20,000 to $25,000 in order to increase more participations and competitiveness during the international Classics.
Orbih said July 15 has been set aside as the arrival date, a badminton umpire course has also been fixed for July 16 to 18, at Teslim Balogun Stadium’s Administration Conference Room, while the tournament proper serves off on Wednesday and ends with an elaborate final ceremony on Saturday.
He said: “Nigeria is going into this tournament with impressive records from some of the top players. Nigeria won the Ivory Coast International Badminton Championships held in Abidjan between 21st and 24th of June with 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals. Nigeria’s Dorcas Adesokan, Africa’s number one female player, won the Women’s Singles of the event, while the the duo of Anuoluwapo Opeyori and Godwin Olofua won the Men’s Doubles. Adesokan Dorcas and Clement Krobakpor won the Mixed Doubles.
“Victory at the Ivory Coast International is envisaged to propel Nigeria’s national and African champions to victory at the Ghana International which gets underway from Friday, 12th to Sunday, 15th July. This event precedes the Lagos International Classics.”
The Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, said the government of Lagos State has made all arrangements to ensure a smooth organisation of the Classics.
Tandoh disclosed that the host, Lagos State, has 12 dependable stars among the players presented by Nigeria for the Lagos International Classics.
Top among them are Anuoluwapo Opeyori, who is ranked number one in Nigeria, and Godwin Olofua, Nigeria’s number number 3 player.
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