Opeyori, Georges, others shine as championships end today

Dalung, Wike, Others To Grace Finals

Nigeria’s number one seed, Anu Opeyori, compatriot, Godwin Olofua and Africa’s top seed, Julien Paul Georges all booked their places in the round of 16 at the All Africa Senior Championships, which ends today at the Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Olofua ranked number three, defeated Mauritius’ Aatish Lubah 21-8, 21-19, while both Opeyori and Georges sailed through to the round of 16 in the men’s category with their 2-0 triumph over their respective opponents in the round of 32 pairings.

In one of the encounters also decided yesterday in the round of 32, unseeded Nigerian, Zainab Alabi created an upset by beating second seed, Hadia Hosny of Egypt in three sets to qualify for the round of 16 that will be decided today.

The mixed doubles fixture pairing between Ghana and South Africa was won by Ghana’s Daniel Sam and Jennifer Abitty, who beat South Africa’s Bodenstein/ Johanita Scholtz in 16-21 21-17, 22-20 results to book her passage to the round of 16.

It was an easy wins for Nigeria’s Dorcas Adesokan and Africa number one, Kate Foo Kune as they also qualified for the round of 16 in the women’s singles category.

However, the semifinal matches in the men’s single, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s double, as well as mixed doubles would all be decided today.

Team Nigeria had earlier won gold medal in the mixed team event after defeating Mauritius 32 in the final.Meanwhile, organisers of the championships have confirmed that the Minister for Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, are among dignitaries that would grace today’s finals.