In what turned out to be a pulsating showdown at the Alake Sports Complex, Ogun State’s women’s badminton team, led by Olympian and multiple African Championships medallist Dorcas Adesokan, delivered a gripping 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Edo State to claim gold in the team event at the ongoing National Sports Festival.
The victory marked a significant triumph for the hosts and a personal redemption arc for Adesokan, who had previously missed out on the coveted team gold at the last Sports Festival in Asaba.
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The matchup, featuring Nigeria’s top-ranked players, had all the elements of a classic and set the tone for what promises to be a high-octane badminton tournament.
Star power collides in blockbuster final
With Dorcas Adesokan, former national number one Aminat Ilori (7), and rising star Omotola Felicia (22) in their corner, Team Ogun squared off against a formidable Edo State side boasting current Nigerian number one Ruth Ebere, number two Deborah Ukeh, and the explosive Blessing Ihenslekhlen.
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The format for the final featured three singles and two doubles matches.
Ogun claimed two early singles victories, surging ahead 2-0. But Edo responded with grit, pulling one back in the final singles match to narrow the gap to 2-1.
Edo then carried their momentum into the first doubles, levelling the contest at 2-2 and pushing the final to a dramatic decider.
Ogun seals it in frenzied decider
With the gold medal on the line, both teams brought everything to the court in the final doubles match. Fueled by the roaring home crowd, Ogun held their nerve to edge out Edo and clinch a sensational 3-2 win.
Speaking after the thrilling finale, Adesokan expressed her delight at finally reclaiming a title that had eluded her for years.
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“I’ve won three gold medals in the singles event at the festival before, but we missed out on the team event gold the last time,” Adesokan told PREMIUM TIMES. “So, I have been hoping that we take back that women’s team title and finally we have done it. It feels really good to have done that against a very good team like Edo.”
Tough road to the final
Ogun and Edo had to dig deep in their semi-final clashes to reach the final, with Lagos and Rivers States pushing them to the limit. Each semi-final tie extended to the doubles before the finalists prevailed. Lagos and Rivers shared the bronze medals after impressive runs.
Singles and doubles take centre stage next
The women’s team event was the first medal contest in badminton at this year’s festival, setting the pace for the upcoming matches. The men’s team event is still in progress, while singles and doubles action resumes on Thursday (today) at the Alake Sports Complex, with fans expecting more fireworks as Nigeria’s best battle for supremacy.
