THE Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has begun its preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics by opening its training camp for the Games in Lagos.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled for July 26 to August 11.
Two-time African Games gold medallist and four-time African Senior champion Anuoluwapo Opeyori is Nigeria’s only representative in the badminton event at the Games.
BFN president Francis Orbih noted that Opeyori is paired with two national team players, Victor Ikechukwu and Emmanuel Joseph, for his training sessions at the badminton section facility of Ikoyi Club 1938.
Orbih said the federation has concluded plans for the second stage of camping for Opeyori in Italy.
“Before the announcement of the ministry’s camping programme, the BFN decided to put our qualified athlete, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, in camp alongside two national team players, Victor Ikechukwu and Emmanuel Joseph, at the Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos,” Orbih explained.
“The federation chose Ikoyi Club because it has one of the best badminton facilities in the country and the federation has been in a collaborative partnership with the club.
“The players are currently being handled by coach Ben Orakpor who is one of our experienced coaches in the country. There is no time to waste because we have less than two months until the Paris 2024 Olympics and the federation wants to ensure Opeyori is in top shape.
“Opeyori has only 10 days in Nigeria before he departs for his first phase of the foreign training camp in Italy. We want him to have access to world-class facilities and play against some top-ranked players in Europe.”
Orbih added that the African champion will join the foreign camp organised by the Federal Ministry of Sports in Germany, which will be held in July.
He said: “We have agreed that Anuoluwapo Opeyori will join the foreign camp organised by the Federal Ministry of Sports in Germany from the 1st to 21st of July and in between play the Mauritius international from 11th to 14th July.
“The Badminton Federation of Nigeria will continue to monitor the progress of Opeyori and hope he surpasses his previous record at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.”
