In a riveting showdown at the 6th Lagos International Badminton Classics, 22-year-old Brazilian talent Jonathan Matias emerged victorious on Saturday, defeating Spain’s Pablo Abian to claim the Men’s Singles championship.
The prestigious final battles of the 6th Lagos International Badminton Classic unfolded within the hallowed confines of the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.
The climactic duel between Matias and Abian was an intense affair, with the Brazilian capitalising on a series of errors by the Spanish player.
Matias, who overcame Nigeria’s Anu Opeyori in the quarterfinals en route to the final, described his victory as a significant milestone in his budding international career.
“This title holds immense significance for me, as it marks my first-ever triumph in a major international classic tournament,” Matias remarked.
He went on to commend the invigorating atmosphere and the fans’ support, noting that their presence did not distract him from his focus. “I concentrated solely on my game, leaving everything else behind,” he emphasised. “The hall was serene in my mind as I played, with no thoughts of the crowd. I dedicated rigorous training and hard work to this event, and now I stand as the champion. My hope is to build on this success and secure more medals, especially at the Olympics.”
Fabio Caponio of Italy and Dmtny Panarin of Kazakhstan shared third-place honours in the Men’s Singles category.
In the Women’s Singles division, Ines Lucia Castilo-Salazar of Peru secured the championship by defeating Lauren Lam of the USA. Rachel Darragh of Ireland and Juliana Vaiana Viera of Brazil tied for third place.
The Men’s Doubles title went to the Indian pair of PS Ravikshra and Sankar Prasad Udayakumar, who triumphed over Algeria’s Koceila Mammey and Youcef Sabri, with Nigeria’s Abduhamid Waheed Musa and Daniel Philip, alongside Jose Guevara and Diego Mini of Peru, settling for joint third place.
In the Women’s Doubles event, the Indian duo of Sirran Singhi and Ritika Thaker claimed victory via a walkover against the American duo of Lauren Lam and Paula Lynn. Additionally, the Indian pair of Rutaparma Panda and Swetapana Panda, along with Amy Ackerman and Deidre Laurens, shared the third-place podium.
In the mixed doubles category, Jose Guevara and Ines Lucia Castilo of Peru secured the top spot by defeating Mina Ivanocic and Petra Polanc of Slovenia. Musa Morroh and Ramatu Yakubu, alongside Dinna Miri and Paula la Torre-Regal of Peru, shared the third position.
The event’s final attracted an array of dignitaries and stakeholders in Nigeria’s badminton community, including Mr. Sola Aiyepeku, Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), and Francis Orbih, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), among others.
