Africa top seeds in the men and women’s singles event have been knocked out of the ongoing Lagos Badminton Classics on Thursday played at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos.
Africa number one men’s singles champion Anu Opeyori was booted out in the first round by Russia’s Sergey Sirant 2-0 ( 21-8, 21-15).
Nigeria number two in the men’s singles Godwin Olofua lost in three sets to Howard Shu of USA. Olofua lost to the American 21-13, 16-21, 21-17 in the first round.
In the women’s singles, Africa number one Dorcas Adesokan won her opening match as she defeated Egypt’s Hadia Hosny 21-18, 21-16 to reach the second round. She however failed to advance to the next round losing to world number 66 Thi Trang Vu of Vietnam 21-10, 21-11.
Other Nigerian players who failed to make it to the next round are: Amin Yop Christopher, Chinyere Ibere, Asisat Ogunkanbi, Aminat Ilori, Mariam Oke, Felicia Omotola, Tosin Atolagbe, Deborah Ukeh, Ashilu Makir and Sofiat Obanishola.
The doubles event took a different twist as Nigerians recorded big wins to advance to the next round of the Lagos Badminton Classics.
The duo of Enejoh Abah and Peace Orji beat Michael Baah and Grace Atipaka of Ghana in the mixed doubles 2-0 (21-16, 21-9) while Yunusa Momoh and Ramatu Yakubu edged Daniel Sam and Perpetual Quaye of Ghana 2-0 (25-23, 21-18).
In the men’s doubles, Opeyori and Olofua teamed up to beat their compatriots Abubakar Bakari and Sunday Musa 21-10, 21-5. While Daniel Christopher and Folorunsho Opeyori combined to knock out Saddam Rufai and Khali Shamsuddeen 21-15, 21-13.
In the women’s doubles the duo of Adesokan and Ukeh beat Palwasha Bashir and Mahoor Shahzad of Pakistan 21-19, 18-21, 21-14 to reach the next round.
