The Lagos International also known as Lagos International Badminton Classics is an annual open international badminton tournament held in Lagos, Nigeria. This tournament established since 2014, organized by the Lagos State Badminton Association (LSBA) and Badminton Federation of Nigeria.[1] The tournament sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA), and has grade as BWF International Challenge level with the total prize money $15,000. The classics is expected to help Nigerian players to improve their world ranking as well as play against some of the top rated players in the world, and it is also an opportunity to showcase the positive side of Lagos and Nigeria.[2][3] It is also an intervention programme of the Lagos State Government, it is a series of international open sporting events geared towards attracting the best continental and global sports talents to the shores of the region.[3] The Lagos State Government believes that the tournament is part of series of international sports events that will bring world stars to the state.[4]

Lagos International
SportBadminton
Founded2014
FounderLagos State Badminton Association
CountryNigeria

Tournament

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The first tournament was held at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, in Yaba, Lagos, and categorized as BWF International Challenge with the total prize money $15.000.[2][5] A total 162 athletes from 15 countries drawn at the competition.[5] The winners of the first edition were Misha Zilberman of Israel and Jeanine Cicognini of Italy in the men's and women's singles; Andries Malan and Willem Viljoen of South Africa in the men's doubles; then the host country pairs won the women's and mixed doubles, represented by Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan/Maria Braimoh, and Enejoh Abah/Tosin Damilola Atolagbe.[6]

The second edition was held from 15 to 18 July 2015, attracted at least 28 countries, and the host country represented by 80 players.[7] The vice-president of Nigeria Badminton Federation who also doubles as Chairman LSBA, Francis Orbih, said that this tournament is an initiative borne out of the need to create an international competition for home grown talents who don't participate in international tournaments.[3] Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, gave the commitment at the finals and closing ceremony will continue to sponsor this tournament.[8] At the end of the tournament, India clinched three title in the men's singles, men's and women's doubles, Czech Republic won the women's singles, and Poland in the mixed doubles.[9]

In 2016, This tournament failed to hold due to the economic recession facing the country.[10] The third edition then held between 25 and 29 July 2017, at the Molada Okoya Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.[11] The prize money has increased to $20,000, and attracted 75 men's and 36 women's athletes.[10]

Previous winners

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Year Men's singles Women's singles Men's doubles Women's doubles Mixed doubles
2014   Misha Zilberman   Jeanine Cicognini   Andries Malan
  Willem Viljoen
  Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan
  Maria Braimoh
  Enejoh Abah
  Tosin Damilola Atolagbe
2015   B. Sai Praneeth   Kristína Gavnholt   Manu Attri
  B. Sumeeth Reddy
  Pradnya Gadre
  N. Sikki Reddy
  Robert Mateusiak
  Nadieżda Zięba
2017   Rahul Yadav Chittaboina   Thilini Hendahewa   Manu Attri
  B. Sumeeth Reddy
  Thilini Hendahewa
  Kavidi Sirimannage
  Misha Zilberman
  Svetlana Zilberman
2018[12]   Misha Zilberman   Ksenia Polikarpova   Manu Attri
  B. Sumeeth Reddy
  Riya Mookerjee
  Kuhoo Garg
  Manu Attri
  K. Maneesha
2019   Nguyễn Tiến Minh   Neslihan Yiğit   Jones Ralfy Jansen
  Peter Käsbauer
  Pooja Dandu
  Sanjana Santosh
  Arjun M.R.
  K. Maneesha
2020 Cancelled[note 1]
2021 Cancelled[note 2]
2022 Cancelled[note 3]
2023[13]   Jonathan Matias   Inés Castillo   P.S Ravikrishna
  Sankar Prasad Udayakumar
  Simran Singhi
  Ritika Thaker
  José Guevara
  Inés Castillo
2024[14]   Lê Đức Phát   Shreya Lele   Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy
  Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala
  Kavipriya Selvam
  Simran Singhi
  Sathwik Reddy Kanapuram
  Vaishnavi Khadkekar
  1. ^ This tournament, originally to be played from 1 to 4 July, was later cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
  2. ^ This tournament, originally to be played from 3 to 6 November, was later cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
  3. ^ This tournament, originally to be played from 31 August to 6 September, was later cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

Performances by nation

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As of the 2024 edition
Pos Nation MS WS MD WD XD Total
1   India 2 1 5 5 3 16
2   Israel 2 1 0 0 1 4
3   Nigeria 0 0 0 1 1 2
  Peru 0 1 0 0 1 2
  Sri Lanka 0 1 0 1 0 2
  Vietnam 2 0 0 0 0 2
7   Brazil 1 0 0 0 0 1
  Czech Republic 0 1 0 0 0 1
  Germany 0 0 1 0 0 1
  Italy 0 1 0 0 0 1
  Poland 0 0 0 0 1 1
  South Africa 0 0 1 0 0 1
  Turkey 0 1 0 0 0 1
Total 7 7 7 7 7 35

References

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  1. ^ "28 Countries Set to Battle for N30 Million at the Lagos Badminton Classics". Connectnigeria.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Israel, South Africa are top seeds, as Lagos International Badminton Classics serves off". The Niche. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "28 Countries For Lagos Badminton Classics". P.M. News. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Why Lagos Organised Badminton International Classics –Tinubu". Thisday. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Lagos International Badminton Classics Serves of with 15 Countries Participating". Sundiata Post. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Lagos International Badminton Classics Serves of with 15 Countries ParticipatingLagos International – Nigeria dominates in doubles event". Badmintonplanet.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Lagos International Badminton Classics attracts 28 countries". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Ambode Reiterates Commitment to Grassroot Sports Development". Lagos State Governor. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Team Nigeria disappoints at 2nd Lagos International Badminton Classics". Nigerian Observer. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Nigeria, 10 Others Set for Lagos International Badminton Classics". Thisday. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Lagos Hosts International Badminton Classics". Lagos State Governor. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Lagos International Badminton Classics: Nigeria's Top Players Happy With Achievements". The Eagle Online. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  13. ^ Lagos International Classics 2023 winners
  14. ^ Lagos International Classics 2024 winners
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