Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the government and people of the state will provide a serene atmosphere for the 2019 All African Seniors Badminton Championships.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) on Friday at the Government House Port Harcourt, Governor Wike thanked the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) for approving Port Harcourt as the city to host the rest of the continent.
He assured the Badminton family that the Rivers State Government will get the venue for the tournament ready before the Rivers Governor’s Badminton Championship.
“We will prepare the Civic Centre and get it ready for the Rivers Governor’s National Badminton Championship. We will support the organisation of the championship,” he said.
Governor Wike directed the State Commissioner of Sports to work with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) to ensure the successful hosting of Rivers Governor’s National Badminton Championship and the 2019 All African Seniors Badminton Championships.
Earlier, the President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Mr Francis Orbih praised Governor Wike for turning around the sporting sector through quality investments.
He informed Governor Wike that Rivers State has been granted the hosting rights for the 2019 All African Seniors Badminton Championship in April.
He said the forthcoming Rivers Governor’s National Badminton Championship will prepare the ground for the continental fiesta.
He said that the African Badminton Championship is coming to Nigeria for the first time in 19years.
The BFN President urged the governor to assist the federation install the needed facilities that would make the Civic Centre ready for the Rivers Governor’s National Badminton Championship.
He said that the National Badminton hero, Mr Tamuno Gibson who hails from Rivers State, has contributed to the growth of the game.
To develop the game of Badminton, Orbih said that the federation will introduce a programme called Shuffle Time.
He said that the programme meant for secondary schools will be flagged off in Rivers State.
…Nigeria Badminton players on the March, invades East Africa
Top badminton players from Nigeria will attempt to reassert their rating as Africa’s bests as they stop Kampala for the Uganda International Championship.
Featuring in the tournament which begins this Friday are Anu Opeyori, Godwin Olofua and Dorcas Adesokan.
From Uganda, the players who thrilled in Zambia and South Africa late last year will move to Kenya to continue their exploits.
From the draw, the Nigerian players will be hoping to have a bite of the $10, 000 purse on offer at the championship that has been labelled International Series by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Opeyori and Olofua who are Nigeria’s top two players will vie for honours in the men’s singles and men’s doubles events, while Adesokan, Africa’s number one in the women’s category, will hope to continue her dominance with another win.
The trio will hope to garner more points as they continue their pursuit of an Olympic appearance in Tokyo, Japan next year.
Speaking earlier this year, Adesokan said that she has to play over 10 senior international competitions this year as she hopes to amass enough points that would take her into the top 70 in the world.
“My ambition is to play at the Olympics and that means I have to work hard and attend over 10 international competitions. I will also have to win most of these competitions. I am currently ranked 108 in the world and I have to be among the best 70 to play in Tokyo,” she added.
According to Adesokan, she goes into every tournament to win, noting she works hard to ensure that results always go her way. “As a professional, I work hard and go into tournaments with a strong desire to win.
The players will leave Uganda next Tuesday for Kenya to take part in the Kenya international which serves off next week Thursday.
