EIGHTY-FOUR players from 15 states will be taking part in the maiden edition of LMK Under-15 Badminton Championship in Ilorin.
The competition’s local organising committee (LOC) was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Kwara State Stadium Complex in Ilorin.
Bola Mogaji, Executive Chairman of Kwara State Sports Commission, speaking during the inauguration, praised the Chief Executive Officer of LMK Sports Kit Outfit, Abdulfatai Salaudeen, for sponsoring the tournament.
Mogaji said that the tournament supplements the efforts of the state government in the development of sports at the grassroots.
Suleiman Warrah , the Chairman of Kwara State Badminton Association, while launching the LOC conveyed his confidence in the members’ ability to deliver a worthy event.
”These are men of proven integrity and capacity,” he said.
Salaudeen expressed that the idea of the championship was borne out of his desire to give back to the society.
“I thank everyone for supporting me from the time we started planning for this event till this moment.
“This competition is just my own little way of giving back to the society and also try as much as possible to discover more talents that will represent the state and country in the nearest future”. Salaudeen who is a former badminton player said.
Tunde Kazeem, the committee’s Chairman and former Kwara Director of Sports, who spoke after the LOC’s inauguration, pledged that the championship would be memorable and reflect international standard.
Kazeem, who also serves as the Technical Director of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), commended Mogaji for the provision of such an enabling environment for the tournament.
“This is especially in the provision of hostel accommodation for the participating players and the Indoor Sports Hall for the games,” he said.
The championship which kicks-off on Thursday to end on Saturday will involve singles and doubles matches in both the male and female categories.
The championship winners will take home rewards of cash prizes totaling about two million Naira and other prizes in the form of playing equipment.
