By Aderonke Ojo
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has declared its readiness to host the 9th Lagos International Badminton Classics, scheduled to hold from August 26 to 29, 2026, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), National Stadium, Lagos.
President of the BFN, Francis Orbih, said the federation is fully prepared to host the international tournament, with 166 players from 27 countries expected to participate.
Orbih described the level of international interest in the competition as encouraging, noting that the participation of athletes from across the world further underscores the growing importance of the Lagos International Badminton Classics.
“We are fully prepared to host the 9th Lagos International Badminton Classics. The response from participating countries has been very encouraging, and we are expecting 166 players from 27 countries to compete in this year’s tournament,” he said.
The tournament will feature a total prize purse of US$20,000, reflecting the significance of the competition on the international badminton calendar.
According to the BFN President, the prize money will serve as an additional incentive for participating athletes to compete at their best and deliver a high-quality championship.
“The US$20,000 prize money demonstrates the level of importance attached to this competition. We want the players to have every motivation to give their best and put on a great performance,” he said.
Orbih also expressed appreciation to the Director General of the National Institute for Sports, Rt. Hon. Phillip Shuaibu, and the management of the institute for making the venue available for the championship.
“We sincerely appreciate the Director General of the National Institute for Sports, Rt. Hon. Phillip Shuaibu, and his management team for making the venue available to the Badminton Federation of Nigeria. Their support has been crucial to our preparations, and we are grateful for their cooperation,” Orbih stated.
He assured participants, officials and badminton enthusiasts that the federation remains committed to delivering a well-organised and successful championship.
Orbih further noted that hosting the tournament would contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s reputation as a destination for major international badminton events while providing an opportunity for local athletes to compete against players from other countries.
The BFN President expressed confidence that the 9th Lagos International Badminton Classics would be a successful edition and further enhance Nigeria’s standing on the international badminton stage.
