Badminton battles scheduling crisis at Gateway Games

The 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State has seen intense competition and groundbreaking moments, but amid the fanfare, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) is caught in a time crunch.

With their allocated schedule at the Alake Sports Complex in Abeokuta expiring today (Friday), the BFN is scrambling to wrap up its seven-event lineup despite having only completed two.

The race against time has forced the federation to reduce the number of events while managing logistical limitations and increased participation, including the debut of deaf badminton.

Here’s how the federation is navigating the storm, what triggered the congestion, and what officials are saying as they fight to finish strong.

Limited time, high stakes

Badminton at the National Sports Festival officially served off on Sunday, but as of Friday morning, only two events, the men’s and women’s team categories, have been concluded. The remaining five events now hang in the balance with just hours to spare.

Complicating matters, the multi-use Alake Sports Complex is already booked to host table tennis matches starting on Saturday, May 24, which leaves no room for extensions or overruns.

We’re Constrained —Technical Director speaks out

Technical Director of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Tunde Kazeem, expressed confidence in the federation’s ability to beat the deadline, even though the introduction of deaf badminton and logistical issues have made it harder than usual.

“This time around, the introduction of deaf badminton has choked our events, and we have seven events. They started on Sunday, and they are still playing. So we are constrained,” Mr Kazeem told PREMIUM TIMES

Unlike past festivals, the distance between the venue in Abeokuta and the athletes’ Games Village in Babcock University, Ilishan, has also meant that matches cannot run late into the night.

“Most of our festivals, we play till 12 midnight, but we cannot afford to do that here because of the distance between the venue in Abeokuta and the Games Village at Babcock University.”

Event cuts and strategy shift

To make room for completion within the tight schedule, the BFN has taken the drastic measure of slashing the number of doubles events.

“What we have done to manage the situation is to reduce the number of events,” Mr Kazeem added.

“We have cut down the number of doubles from two to one in both male and female categories, and the mixed doubles is just one as well. So, the states must put their best players forward.”

“A victim of its own popularity”—Venue committee reacts

Chairman of the Venues and Facilities Sub-Committee of the 22nd NSF, Emmanuel Igbinosa, weighed in on the situation, noting that the problem stems from the growing popularity of badminton and the expansion of its categories.

“I wouldn’t know the number of entries they have for the events, but what we allocated to most racquet sports is five days,” Mr Igbinosa said.

“Apparently, the sport is more popular, which is a good development, and the introduction of deaf badminton as well. They also have team events.”

While applauding the sport’s growth, Mr Igbinosa emphasised the urgent need for a dedicated hall for badminton in future editions.

“It then becomes imperative that they need a dedicated hall for their events at subsequent competitions.”

He also drew parallels with similar scheduling challenges at the African Games in Ghana, where table tennis was completed before the opening ceremony due to tight planning.

“But they have also told me they would finish their events on Friday.”

Champions emerge amid the chaos

Despite the disruption, victories have been recorded: Ogun State clinched the gold medal in the women’s team event on Wednesday.

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Oyo State claimed the men’s team gold on Thursday after edging out Edo State in the final.

With the clock ticking and the courts still busy, Friday promises a high-pressure finish to badminton’s contribution at the 2024 National Sports Festival.

Whether it’s a triumph of improvisation or a lesson in planning, one thing is clear: badminton’s future at the NSF may soon require a bigger stage and more breathing room.