Ambode, Tinubu Rate 3rd Lagos Int’l Badminton Classics High

TAIWO ADELU 

The Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Deji Tinubu have rated the just concluded third edition of Lagos International Badminton Classics Championship very high.

Ambode,  who was the Special  Guest of Honour was represented by his Special Adviser on Central Business District, Honourable Agboola Dabiri at the final ceremony held inside the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos on Saturday.

The Governor said the hosting of the International Badminton Classics  is born out of his administration’s mandate to achieve tourism through sports. This he had made known since he assumed powering 2015, and series of international sports events hosted in Lagos could attest to this.

According to him, sports is a vital tool in every country to promote and showcase its cultural heritage, to grow its economy and create employment for many talented citizens irrespective of their areas of operational gifts.

Ambode, who assured sports lovers that the state will put in all that is needed to ensure Lagos hosts other competitions in robust way, described the competition as a pleasing and encouraging experience.

Meanwhile, Tinubu, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports said the Badminton Classics was hosted to  show that Lagos could give players a platform to thrive globally.

His words: “This tournament is to show that we don’t need to hassle our players but we can bring the world here. We can make it happen in Lagos, We can create events here to expose them globally.”

While commending the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Tinubu said the professionalism displayed by the players , teams and officials was satisfactory and top class, noting that the State will continue its developmental programmes to churn out the best of talents in all aspects of sports .

The President, Badminton Federation of /Chairman, Lagos Badminton Federation, Barrister Francis Orbih commended players from all eleven countries represented, saying they have exhibited the spirit of good sportsmanship.

He revealed that this year’s competition had better funding and compensation for the players following the State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s support in the increase of the funding from $15,000 to $20,000 which in return has attracted private sponsorship for the competition.

He,  however,  assured sports enthusiasts of a bigger output and organization of the competition next year, stating that 2018 is the Olympics global events year.

Chittaboina Rahul Yadav of India won the men’s singles, Thilini Promodika Hindahewa of Sri Lanka was the winner of the women’s singles, while Team India and Team Sri Lanka were the winners in the men and women’s doubles respectively.

The teams that participated in the Tournament are; Portugal, Togo, Ghana, Egypt, Sri Lanka , Jordan, India, Italy, Benin Republic, Uganda and host country Nigeria.