The inaugural edition of the governor’s South-West Badminton championship sets today, Wednesday, the 7th of December 2016 alive at the indoor hall of the Rowe Park sport centre, Yaba, as free spirited fans and badminton lovers alike get set to revel in the frenzy.
The three day badminton championship which is expected to be contested by a massive eighty eight (88) players from a number of categories will also include the country’s top sixteen (16) ranked players and two officials each from every participating state.
Completing the cast of participating players are: four male and female players from each of the south-western states for the senior category and two players (male and female) from the U15 level as the competition also moves to improve grass-root badminton.
And to add to all of that numbers, the competition’s sponsors, the Lagos state government will also provide feeding and accommodation for all of the invited players including the twelve coaches and twenty five technical officials on ground for the three-day badminton fiesta.
The prize money for this year’s maiden edition of the championship will also follow similar ground breaking trend as it takes a bold move to foster gender equality; with the singles event for the male and female category cashing away an incredible 150,000.00 for the 1st position and 2nd position rewarded with a 100,000.00 Naira with the joint 3rd having to go home with 75,000.00.
Also, the doubles category without doubt will be as well contested as the singles category as 1st will run away with a 150,000.00, 2nd with 100,000.00 and see joint third leave with 25,000.00 *4.
The junior U15 classification will have plenty to cheer for when the three day championship ends as they would be heading home with badminton rackets, racket bags and plenty of the game’s materials to aid their progress and development.
With the Lagos State Badminton association grooming a young team of passionate badminton players, the 1st governor’s south-west championship provides yet the best test of their mettle on the court and perhaps for a few, it is Lagos versus these myriad of top-notch players the country has to offer and for others, just another invaluable moment to enjoy the beautiful game of badminton at its best.