Godwin Olofua receiving a handshake during medal presentations…
The first edition of the four-day Lagos Governor’s South-West Badminton Championship reached its climax this weekend at the Indoor Hall of the Mobolaji Johnson sport centre, Yaba as an unprecedented number of over one hundred players fought for lion prizes.
Lagos State’s Godwin Olofua showed just enough stamina and resolve to come champion in the male single category over the impressive Habeeb Bello of Oyo State on a 2-1 major scores while new mother, Tosin Atolgbe Davis from Ogun State was short of energy as she succumbed to the resilience of Oyo’s Zainab Momoh to lose 1-2 in the female singles category.
PHOTO: ‘He that works hard, deserves a reward’…
In a vigorously contested match-up between Godwin and Habeeb in the men singles final, the former, in what seem to be his style raced away with the first round 21-18. However, Habeeb who already have defied the odds by making the final after a shock semi-final defeat to home favourite, Anuoluwa Opeyori came back strong and quite emphatically with a 11-21 win the round game.
And the third and decider round was always going to need an extra of everything for a champion to emerge in the competition’s maiden edition and it was the charismatic Godwin Olofua who dug the deepest to muster a hard-fought 21-16 victory to seal his place as victor.
Tosin Atolagbe Davis in action during the Women single final…
Also, the duo of Atolagbe Tosin Davis and Dorcas Adesokan emerged 2-1 winner for women doubles category against Zainab Momoh and Peace Orji while the Lagos duo of Anuoluwa Opeyori and Godwin Olofua won the men’s doubles category 21-13, 21-12 (2-0) over Oyo’s Habeeb Bello and Umar Sadiq.
POISED: The ladies in action…
The U15 boys was won by Ekiti State and the girls category was won by Ogun State.
In the boys, it was a landslide victory for Roland Okunola of Ekiti State as he emerged winner with a 21-8, 21-11 (2-0) scoreline over Lagos’ Kelvin Soyanolu. The girls category saw a bit of fight but, perhaps it was too little too small from Olatunji Aminat as she was overwhelmed by state mate, Alade Omolade 21-16, 21-18 (2-0) in the all sister contest.
L-R: Funke, Zainab, Tosin receiving medals during the closing ceremony…
Following the stipulated prize money, Godwin and Zainab received a check of N150,000.00 respectively, while a N100,000.00 and N75,000.00 *2 went to the second and joint third positions in all of the categories respectively. The U15 Boys and Girls also headed home with Badminton rackets, bags and other playing materials for their continual growth.