President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih revealed that multiple African Champion, Anuoluwapo Opeyori will intensify training in Italy this June ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Orbih made the declaration during a send-forth for the country’s number one badminton star Anuoluwapo Opeyori in Lagos.
He revealed that Opeyori intends to play at the Mauritius International and one other championship during the training tour.
An elated Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, said on the occasion that Opeyori had broken the badminton jinx after qualification for the Games in Paris.
“History was made in badminton after Anuoluwapo Opeyori secured a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. I am full of joy because Anu is the first Nigerian badminton player to feature in the men’s singles at the Olympic Games and also the first Nigerian badminton player to attend two Olympics back-to-back,” Orbih stated at the Civic Centre, Lagos, venue of the event.
He added, “We titled this programme ‘Send forth’ because we intend him to travel to Italy this week for a training camp for about three weeks. After that, the ministry will open its training camp in Germany July 1, he’ll join the team Nigeria there.
“We also intend him to play the Mauritius International and one other championship. After the training camp he needs to go to the court and put to use the skills he acquired in camp. After that he goes straight to the Olympics.”
Opeyori, who has dominated Africa in the men’s singles from 2019 till date, winning four African Championship titles and two African Games titles, secured a spot at the Paris Games last month, becoming the first Nigerian badminton player to qualify for two consecutive Olympics after featuring at Tokyo 2020.
