Day Two of the 8th Lagos International Badminton Classics brought fireworks at the Teslim Balogun Indoor Sports Hall, with 42 matches delivering shock defeats, dazzling rallies, and moments of brilliance. Athletes lauded the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for world-class organization and warm hospitality, as the competition continued to draw global recognition.
After dominating Day One, India’s charge was slowed by a string of setbacks in the men’s singles. While Kalagotla secured a straight-sets win over Slovakia’s Drata, his teammates faltered. Poland’s world-ranked 165 Kwinta stunned Walter in a close battle, Indonesia’s P. Shujiwo overcame Negi, and Japan’s M. Koja delivered the day’s biggest upset, knocking out India’s fifth seed Bharadwaj in straight games.
Nigeria’s hopes also dimmed as home favorites faced tough international opposition. In mixed doubles, Jovita Chisom and O. Miracle fell to India’s Bhatnagar and Balachandra, while in women’s singles, O. Obasanmi exited at the hands of India’s Shiagin. Despite the losses, the spirited performances reflected the host nation’s growing presence on the global badminton stage.
Elsewhere, Korea’s Park GE breezed into the quarterfinals with a commanding win over the Philippines’ Parol, while Indonesia’s giant-killer Muhammad Yusuf continued his dream run, dispatching India’s Dayanand to cap a difficult outing for the South Asian powerhouse. With quarterfinal and semifinal spots now at stake, the Lagos International Badminton Classics is setting up for a thrilling climax.
