Lagos Badminton Classics: Team Nigeria Bounces Back As 4 Pairs Reach Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals

Team Nigeria bounced back from a disappointing outing in the women’s singles as four Nigerian pairs advanced to the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles at the 9th Lagos International Badminton Classics.

The strong showing in the mixed doubles came after seven Nigerian players were eliminated in the women’s singles Round of 32 at the tournament, which is being held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Nigeria’s top-ranked women’s singles player, Ruth Ebere, was among the early casualties, losing to India’s Surya Tamiri.

Tolulope Oluwadamilola, Kadijat Emiola, Ifeoluwa Ojo, Precious Oluwagbotemi, Peace Jonah and Naomi Tanko also suffered Round-of-32 defeats.

Nigeria, however, responded strongly in the mixed doubles, with four pairs securing their places in the last eight.

Victor Ikechukwu and Emiola defeated Uganda’s Ray Nsubuga and Tracy Naluwooza 21-18, 21-12, while Saidu Aliyu and Christiana Obasman advanced via a walkover against India’s Sai Pratheek and Srinidi Narayan.

Kayode Abdulateef and Cynthia Feranmi overcame Ghana’s Ofori Acheampong and Racheal Quarcoo 21-15, 23-21 in a closely fought encounter.

Usman Afolabi and Zainab Alabi also produced an impressive comeback, recovering from a first-game defeat to beat the United Arab Emirates-Australia combination of S. Munnangi and Stret Yellapragada 14-21, 21-13, 21-17.

Top seeds Dhruv Rawat and Mannesha K received a bye into the next round.

However, Uganda’s Muzafaru Lubega and Gladys Mabazi ended the run of Nigeria’s Akinsola and Aminat Ilori, while Ghana’s Lesllie Addo and Jennifer Eduam defeated Nigeria’s Daniel Oyinlola and Samantha Oluwatunmise.

India’s S. Kanapuram and Radhika Sharma completed the quarter-final line-up with victory over Nigeria’s Aliyu Shehu and U. Ukeh.

The mixed doubles revival gives Nigeria renewed hope of challenging for honours on home soil after the early setbacks in the women’s singles.

The ninth edition of the Lagos International Badminton Classics began on Wednesday and will conclude on Saturday, with players from several countries competing across the various events.