Emmanuel wins maiden WIBC Badminton Championship

Posted : 14 October 2024

A Junior Secondary School 3 student, Olaitan Emmanuel, has emerged as the champion of the inaugural Whitesands School ISabiPlay (WIBC) Badminton Championship in Lagos.

The WIBC Badminton Championship, a grassroots sports development program, was sponsored by a gaming company, ISabiPlay, in partnership with Whitesands School, Lekki Phase 1.

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

In the final match, Emmanuel defeated Munachimso Agu in a well-contested match, while Timilehin Oni came third in the competition.

An elated Emmanuel said his victory was a surprise, despite his determination from the start of the competition.

“I didn’t set out to win the competition initially, but I was able to grow my confidence as the game progressed. I am surprised by my level of play because it’s not like I have been playing badminton for a long time,” he said.

Another player in the competition, Kosiochukwu Agu, a JSS 3 student at Whitesands School, shared his experience, describing badminton as an adventurous sport.

“I started playing badminton for leisure, but later took it seriously as a sport. I started improving, and now I am enjoying it more. I love badminton because of its fast pace and the attention it requires. I feel happy playing in the competition, even though it was my first time in a competitive setting. I’ve been training for three years, but this was my first time competing,” he said.

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

“I love the leadership skills taught during the competition, as well as the encouragement to support one another. Cheering for those on the courts and learning how to be a good sportsman were important lessons. I thank the sponsors for this opportunity of a lifetime. I have never seen a term scholarship given as a prize; it’s amazing,” he said.

Anthony Brendan, a representative of ISabiPlay, the tournament’s sponsor, stated that the aim of the competition was to actively engage students in sports.

“ISabiPlay is a company with interests in sports, youth, and social development. One of our core values is to help kids grow in sports, vocations, and whatever talents they have, and make a profession out of it to support their families. As a gaming company, ISabiPlay aims to become the biggest gaming company in Sub-Saharan Africa. We think initiatives like this can help us achieve our goals. We had a budget of N3 million, but we’ve surpassed that,” he said.

Brendan also noted that the company plans to continue supporting the competition.

“We hope to hold this competition more often because our company’s objectives align with supporting grassroots sports and giving kids something to look forward to. This is not just corporate social responsibility; it’s a way to impact the next generation and give back to society,” he said.

Emeka Enemuoh, the Principal of Whitesands School, praised the organizers for a well-executed event.

“This competition is unique because, although we’ve had other competitions, this is the first time we’re seeing such a vibrant event. The parents have been very supportive, financing the competition and the prizes, and it’s been spectacular. I play badminton as a sport, and although not all children are initially interested, this initiative from ISabiPlay has sparked an interest in many of the boys. Going forward, badminton will likely become one of our prominent sports,” he said.

Enemuoh added, “The prizes were impressive, and the star prize of a second-term tuition scholarship is significant. Parents will be pleased with such an offering.”

One of the parents, Abieyuwa Osaghae, described her son’s performance in the competition as exceptional.

“My son, one of the players, only mentioned badminton to me a few weeks ago. I didn’t realize how serious he was until he told me he’d be participating in this tournament. I was initially here just to watch, but he exceeded my expectations. This type of competition is excellent because it keeps students engaged in productive activities instead of being absorbed by social media. Encouraging outdoor activities is better for our children,” she said.

Solomon Aluma, the head of sports at Whitesands School, also commended the organizers for the competition’s positive impact on students.

“This tournament aims to promote badminton at Whitesands School and to offer an opportunity for students who aren’t as interested in football or basketball to express themselves through badminton. We initially planned for 60 students, but more than 300 attended, so we had to restructure for junior, intermediate, and senior categories. I was stunned by the level of passion and skill shown by the students,” he said.

The winner, Emmanuel, received a tuition scholarship for a term, a giant trophy, and other prizes, while other winners received consolation prizes.

Emmanuel wins maiden WIBC Badminton Championship

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics