FOUR NIGERIAN PAIRS REACH LAGOS BADMINTON CLASSICS QUARTER-FINALS

Team Nigeria produced a strong response in the mixed doubles event at the 9th Lagos International Badminton Classics, with four Nigerian pairs progressing to the quarter-finals.

The impressive performance came after a disappointing outing in the women’s singles, where several Nigerian players, including the country’s top-ranked player Ruth Ebere, were eliminated in the Round of 32.

The tournament is taking place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nigeria Institute of Sports, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, and is scheduled to conclude on Saturday.

Victor Ikechukwu and Kadijat Emiola were among the Nigerian pairs that secured their places in the last eight after defeating Uganda’s Ray Nsubuga and Tracy Naluwooza 21-18, 21-12.

Saidu Aliyu and Christiana Obasman also progressed after receiving a walkover against India’s Sai Pratheek and Srinidi Narayan.

Another Nigerian pairing, Kayode Abdulateef and Cynthia Feranmi, defeated Ghana’s Ofori Acheampong and Racheal Quarcoo 21-15, 23-21 in a closely contested match.

Usman Afolabi and Zainab Alabi completed Nigeria’s successful quarter-final qualification after recovering from a first-set defeat to beat the United Arab Emirates-Australia combination of S. Munnangi and Stret Yellapragada 14-21, 21-13, 21-17.

The mixed doubles results provided a major boost for the Nigerian contingent after the country struggled in the women’s singles competition.

Seven Nigerian players had earlier exited the women’s singles at the Round-of-32 stage, including Ebere, who lost to India’s Surya Tamiri.

Tolulope Oluwadamilola, Kadijat Emiola, Ifeoluwa Ojo, Precious Oluwagbotemi, Peace Jonah and Naomi Tanko were also unable to advance in the singles competition.

Meanwhile, several foreign players have continued their progress in the women’s singles event.

Second seed Disha Gupta of the United States defeated Nigeria’s Naomi Tanko 21-10, 21-10 and advanced in the competition.

Third seed Petra Maixnerova of the Czech Republic, fourth seed Prakriti Bharath of the United Arab Emirates and seventh seed Agnes Korosi of Hungary are also among the players competing for a place in the later stages.

The tournament has attracted badminton players from several countries, providing Nigerian players with an opportunity to compete against international opposition on home soil.

Nigeria will now hope its four remaining mixed doubles pairs can continue their impressive run and secure places in the semi-finals as the competition reaches its decisive stages.

The progress of the four pairs has also offered a positive response from the Nigerian contingent after the country's disappointing performance in the women's singles.