Although qualifying series in some sporting events billed for the 2020 Summer Olympics were abruptly suspended due to the ravaging effect of the coronavirus, Nigerian badminton legends, Ephraim Jinkam and Grace Daniel are optimistic that the country will still qualify for the games which have been shifted to next year.
After reviewing the situation on ground and health hazards should the games hold as scheduled, the International Olympics Committee, IOC, in collaboration with the host country Japan on March 24 announced the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games.
In addition, on April 7 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Qualification Task Force approved a series of amendments to the Tokyo 2020 Qualification System Principles.
The revision was made to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent finalisation of the new dates of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, replacing the previous version approved by the IOC Executive Board in July 2017.
Consequently, IOC said the new qualification period deadline is 29 June 2021, and International Federations can define their own qualification period deadlines should these be prior to this date.
Although Nigeria has already qualified in some events like basketball (Male and female teams), table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling, there are still other team events like weightlifting, athletics, badminton, volleyball, that are still waiting to pick tickets to Tokyo Olympics Games in 2021.
In badminton event, there are others in the running for tickets but at least three players, Anuoluwa Opeyori, Godwin Olufua and Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan are in serious contention to qualify for the Olympics games.
While the pair of Anuoluwa Opeyori and Godwin Olufua is the number one in doubles event in Africa, Ogun State born Dorcas Adesokan is Nigeria and Africa’s number one player in the singles event.
Based on their performances and current continental rankings, expectations are high that they would scale the hurdles when qualification series would resume next year.
Speaking to Daily Trust on the chances of the trio, former African number one male player, Ephraim Bulus Jinkam said he is not in doubt about the ability of the players to pick the available Tokyo Olympics tickets.
He said they are clearly the best in their respective events and stopping them from qualifying for the games would be a difficult task for their opponents.
“Nigeria is still one of the leading nations in badminton in the continent. We have top players who have continued to dominate their events.
“It may interest you to know that we have at least three players who are highly favoured to qualify for the Olympics. There is Anuolwa Opeyori and Godwin Olufua in doubles. They are the number one in Africa. Already they have amassed points that will make it easier for them to qualify.
“There is also Dorcas Adesokan who is the reigning singles champions in Africa. At the moment, she is in a class of her own. It will take a lot to deny her the opportunity to reach the Tokyo Olympics,” he said.
Jinkam who narrowly missed the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympics however said even as their chances are quite bright, the players need the necessary support from the Badminton Federation to qualify for the games.
He also said if given the needed support, the players on their part must step up their training as they wait for the resumption of the Olympics qualifiers.
According to him Oluwa and his team mates are going to meet the best players in the continent so if they don’t prepare well, they would end up disappointed.
“It takes a lot to prepare and qualify for the Olympics. I am therefore calling on the Badminton Federation, BFN, to do the needful by providing the players with all the necessary support.
“The players are in good form but motivation is key. If they are not given the support they need, it will be impossible for them to perform any magic.
“The players themselves must make it a personal responsibility to be in good shape for the qualifiers. As professionals, they don’t need anyone to tell them the cost of complacency.
“If the federation and the players put their acts together, Nigeria would feature at the next Olympics games.
On her part, Grace Daniel who represented Nigeria at the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing after she dominated the continent in the preceding the games also expressed optimism that with the necessary support and adequate preparation, Nigeria will feature at the next Olympics.
She however said considering the system which is unpredictable, the players should depend less on the federation and the sports ministry, if they are to actualise their dreams of Olympics appearance.
According to her, during her time, she was forced to make even painful sacrifices in order to reach the zenith of badminton.
Daniel who is nearing retirement from active badminton said whatever was the cost, she is enjoying the fame that comes with an appearance at the Olympics.
“They are talented players no doubt but I want to encourage them to make sacrifices. Dorcas is a fantastic player. She is the number one in Africa in singles so I don’t think she will find it too hard to qualify for the games.
“I made personal sacrifices to qualify for the Olympics. It was my dream to be there so i did everything possible to achieve it. In the end, God and my hard work took me there.
“I expect the same commitment from them if they are to qualify for Tokyo 2020, now Tokyo 2021,” she said.
When contacted by Daily Trust Saturday, the president of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, BFN, Frank Orbih said the federation is in touch with the players.
He said “At the beginning of the lock-down, we put some money together to give to players and for some of them in Lagos, we distributed food items for our staff at the Ikoyi Club.
“Most of them come to help us during championship, so we included them. They are about 46 of them.
“We send them exercise schedules and programs for them to run with and keep fit. Since they can’t go out to play and the game requires a lot of fitness, they need to keep exercising to keep fit.
“But basically, we are keeping our fingers crossed as there is nothing much we can do while we are waiting for things to ease up and get back to training. We reach out to them echoing the advices by all the relevant health authorities.”
