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.
The 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 consolidated 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 need rest in the team singles event on Wednesday as his countryman, Aatish Lubah defeated Egypt’s Abdelraham Abdelhakim 21-16, 21-11to 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 were taken to the decider with a nervy-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 quarter finals 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
