Hafix, Sada win opening games at Mutual Benefits Championship

The preliminary round of the Mutual Benefit National
Championship started yesterday with players battling to move to the main round.

In two of the early games, Ibrahim Hafix of Kebbi State beat Imrana Sadat 2-1, while Abdulmalik Ibrahim defeated Abdulahi Mohammed to move to the next round.

Some of the players who were supposed to play in the opening round did not show up and so they were walked over.

Chief referee of the tournament, Bayo Ilori said the players were keen to take part in the tournament, which they would use to prepare for the National Sports Festival coming up in Abuja next month.

He also said that upsets would be recorded considering the quality shown by some of the upcoming players.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of Mutual Benefits Assurance PLC, Segun Omosehin noted that the support given to badminton was borne out of the desire to contribute to the growth of the game in the country.

He also disclosed that sponsoring the tournament was a way of giving back to the society, saying the gesture would go a long way in helping to develop sports in the country.

“We are excited to be identifying with this championship. It is a laudable course and that is why we are involved.

“It also gives us the opportunity to contribute to the society in which we operate bearing in mind that the sponsorship will help develop the sports and the athletes. I am sure the players are as excited as we are and they will give their best in the pursuit of the top prize.”

He commended the board of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) for the foresight and urged them to continue to seek to improve the fortunes of the game in the country, while also promising that the Alliance Mutual Assurance and the BFN would be an enduring one.