Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Host country Nigeria extended their perfect start at the Mixed team event in the on-going All Africa Senior Badminton Championship in Port Harcourt.
Nigeria secured a place in final after a flawless 0-3 team performances against close neighbours Ghana in the men’s singles, women’s singles, and mixed doubles categories while Mauritius held strong, fighting their way past the Egyptians for their semi-final clash.
Nigeria’s top mixed doubles pair of Enejo Abah/Peace Orji started the semi-final clean sweep for the host country after the easily went past the Ghanaian pair of Daniel Sam/Eyram Migbodzi 16-21, 12-21 to give the team a strong start.
While Nigeria’s number one male player, Anuolwapo Opeyori made consolidations on the earlier efforts from the mixed doubles pair winning 2-0 against Ghana’s Andrews Ebenezar in straight sets, Dorcas Adesokan completed the class display with a dominant 14-21, 9-21 victory over Grace Atipaka in the women singles.
Mauritius’ Julien Paul Georges got a needed rest in the team’s singles event on Wednesday as his countryman, Aatish Lubah defeated Egypt’s Abdelraham Abdelhakim 21-16, 21-11 to give his team a strong semi-final start.
Africa top female player, Kate Foo Kune kept the momentum for Mauritius with a close 21-14, 10-21, 21-12 win over the relentless Doha Hany in the women’s singles while Aatish Lubah/Julien Paul was taken to the decider with a nerve-racking 21-14, 18-21, 21-14 third set victory over Egypt’s pair of Adham Hatem/Ali Elkhateeb.
Earlier in the day, Ghana and Nigeria had beaten South Africa 2-3 and 0-3 respectively in the quarterfinals encounter with Egypt and Mauritius bettering the challenge from Zambia and Algeria respectively.
DAY 3 – TEAM EVENT
TEAM RESULTS: Quarter Final
Mauritius 3-1 Algeria
Egypt 3-0 Zambia
South Africa 2-3 Ghana
Uganda 0-3 Nigeria
TEAM RESULT: Semi Final
Ghana 0- 3 Nigeria
XD: Daniel Sam/Eyram Migbodzi 16-21, 12-21 Enejo Abah/Peace Orji
MS: Andrews Ebenezar 16-21, 9-21 Anuolwapo Opeyori
WS: Grace Atipaka 14-21, 9-21 Dorcas Adesokan
Mauritius 3-0 Egypt
MS: Aatish Lubah 21-16, 21-11 Abdelraham Abdelhakim
WS: Kate Foo Kune 21-14, 10-21, 21-12 Doha Hany
MD: Aatish Lubah/Julien Paul 21-14, 18-21, 21-14 Adham Hatem/Ali Elkhateeb
FINAL: TEAM EVENT
Nigeria Vs Mauritius 5pm
