India dominates Day 1 of 2025 Lagos International Badminton Classics

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   ‎The opening day of the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics (LIBC) lived up to the hype, as the Teslim Balogun Indoor Sports Hall, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria came alive with 64 thrilling matchups played across four courts. 

 

The action-packed start had absolutely no missing piece serving up 16 relays of captivating moments, filled with drama, upsets, and flashes of brilliance. Setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable 8th edition of the prestigious tournament.

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‎India, who hit the city of Aquatic Splendor, Lagos, with the largest foreign contingent, also emerged as the standout nation on opening day, securing victories in half of the encounters on Wednesday, underlining their strength across multiple categories.

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‎One of the days highlights came rather early and fast as India's L. Kalagotla, dispatched Nigeria’s Rufai in the round of 64 in just 18 minutes. In the men’s singles, however, there was a major upset as the tournament’ second seed Maisham of India, fell in straight sets to Yoo from South Korea 21-8, 21-9, in the round of 32.

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‎The day’s biggest shock came from Indonesia’s Muhammad Yusuf, who stunned top seed N. Mueller of Switzerland in a gripping round of 16 clash, taking the tie in 42 minutes. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea’s O. Solomon also delivered a surprise knockout to sixth seed, India's L. Kalagotla, in the men’s singles round of 16, in straight set 21-11, 21-18.

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‎In the women’s event, India’s T. Sharma edged past P. Bharath of the UAE on Court 2, while current National number one and tournament second seed S. Obanisola advanced after defeating fellow Nigerian, Ilori in the round of 16. 

 

Obasanmi had progressed via a walkover against America's D. Gupta, in the first round. However, it was a disappointing day on the court for former national number one, Dorcas Adesokan, who was beaten 21-13, 21-10 by India’s fifth seed T. Mir as early as the round of 32.

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‎With India dominating proceedings on Day 1, all eyes are fixed on the leaders to see how long they can maintain the momentum as the competition intensifies. Fans and enthusiasts expect more thrill, upsets, rivalries and most of all, world-class displays from one the biggest stages in racquet sport on the big black continent, that proudly boasts ancestral roots in Nigeria's leading Mega-City, Lagos.