Emmanuel wins maiden WIBC Badminton Championship

Posted : 12 October 2024

A Junior Secondary School 1 student, Olaitan Emmanuel, emerged as the champion of the maiden Whitesand, I Sabi Play (WIBC) Badminton Championship in Lagos.

The WIBC Badminton Championship, a grassroots sports development program, was sponsored by a gaming company, I Sabi Play, in partnership with Whitesand Schools, Lekki Phase 1.

Emmanuel rose through the ranks of about 300 students to emerge victorious in the one-day intensive badminton competition held at the Whitesand School Indoor Sports Hall.

In the final match, Emmanuel defeated Munachimso Agu in a well-contested game, while Timilehin Oni secured third place.

A delighted Emmanuel expressed that his victory came as a surprise, despite his determination from the start of the competition.

"I didn't set out to win initially, but I was able to build my confidence as the game went on. I'm surprised at my level of play, considering I haven’t been playing badminton for long," he said.

Another participant, Kosiochukwu Agu, a JSS 3 student from Whitesand School, shared his experience of playing badminton, describing it as adventurous.

"I started playing badminton for leisure, but I later took it seriously and started growing in the sport. Now, I enjoy it even more. I love badminton because of its fast pace and the focus it requires. Although it was my first competitive game, I felt happy playing. I was initially nervous when I entered the court. I've been training for three years, but this was my first competitive match," he said.

Agu added that the main takeaway from the tournament was learning about leadership and responsibility as a student.

"I appreciate the leadership spirit fostered by the competition. Cheering each other on and supporting teammates are essential qualities of a good sportsperson. I thank the sponsors for this tournament, which has given us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, including a term-long scholarship – that’s incredible," he added.

Anthony Brenda, a representative from I Sabi Play Nigeria Limited, the tournament sponsor, stated that the competition aimed to actively engage students in their preferred sport.

"I Sabi Play is interested in sports, youth, and social development. One of our core principles is to help kids grow in their sports, vocations, or talents so they can eventually support their families. We aspire to build a brand that will become the leading gaming company in Sub-Saharan Africa. We initially had a budget of N3 million, but we’ve surpassed that," he said.

Brenda also emphasized the company’s commitment to sustaining the competition.

"We hope to organize this competition frequently, as our objectives align with supporting grassroots sports and giving kids something to aspire to. This initiative is not just a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity, but a means of impacting the next generation and giving back to society," he stated.

Emeka Enemuoh, the Principal of Whitesand Schools, praised the organizers for a job well done.

"This competition is unique. We’ve had other events in the school, but this is the first time we’ve had such a colorful competition. The parents have supported us by financing the prizes; it has been spectacular so far. I play badminton myself, and I know that not all children are interested, but with this initiative from I Sabi Play, many boys have developed an interest in the sport. From what I see now, we will likely have more students interested in badminton, and it will become one of our prominent games," he said.

Enemuoh continued, "The prizes have been impressive, particularly the star prize – a full scholarship for the second term. I believe all the parents are delighted with this prize."

Abieyuwa Osaghae, a parent attending the competition, described her son’s performance as exceptional.

"My son is one of the players. He mentioned badminton a few weeks ago, but I didn’t realize how serious it was until this week. After school, he often trains with other students. I came today just to watch, but I’m impressed with his performance on the court. Even though he lost the second game, I am proud of him. Competitions like this are beneficial because they keep students’ minds away from the distractions of social media. It’s better for us as parents to encourage our children to participate in more outdoor activities," she said.

Solomon Aluma, head of sports at Whitesand Schools, also commended the organizers for the positive impact the competition had on the students.

"This tournament promotes badminton in Whitesand Schools, offering students who aren’t into football, basketball, or other sports an opportunity to express themselves. Initially, we planned for only 60 students, but we ended up with over 300 participants. We had to restructure the event to accommodate Junior, Intermediate, and Senior categories," he explained.

Aluma expressed his amazement at the students’ skills during the tournament.

"I’m stunned by the passion shown by the students. Badminton isn’t as popular as football, yet the turnout was fantastic, and they played with enthusiasm," he noted.

Emmanuel, the champion, received a full scholarship, cash incentives, and a giant trophy, among other prizes, while other winners received consolation prizes.

Emmanuel wins maiden WIBC Badminton Championship

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