Hosts rally to lift doubles badminton title

By ELIZABETH MBURUGU

Kenyans broke a four-year jinx to win in the Kenya International Badminton Championships at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The mixed doubles finals saw Kenya’s finest battle it out for top honours. Top seeds in the category Peter Kinyua beat second seeds Joseph Matheri and Lavina Martins 21-8, 21-1 to seal their victory.

“We did not do well in other categories but I’m happy we are back to our winning ways. The victory is a motivation in future tournaments,’’ Kenya’s  coach John Odhiambo told Fever Pitch.

Kenya won last in this tournament in 2008 when the duo of Fred Gituku and Anna Maina excelled in the same category.

Speaking after their loss to fellow Kenyans Matheri said: “We lost to fellow Kenyans, I’m   happy this is a victory for Kenya and it makes us all winners.’’

Tournament top seed in the men’s singles Subhankar Dey of India beat Gideon Babalola of Nigeria 21-19, 21-19 to lift the category title.

thrilling match

However the most thrilling match of the tournament was in the women’s singles where  African champion and second seed of the tournament Grace Gabriel of Nigeria beat top seed of the tournament Shamim Bangi of Uganda 21-9, 21-15 and 18-21 in a match she felt she could have won easily in two sets.

“I’m happy but I congratulate my opponent, she played well I could have won easily but I relaxed and lost focus after winning the first set,’’ Gabriels said. Gabriels was a double victor as she teamed up with Dorcas Adosekan to win the women’s doubles after beating the Ugandan pair of Shamim Bangi and Margaret Nankabirwa 21-18, 21-9.

The men’s doubles saw Abah Eneojeh and Victor Makanju beat Ibrahim Adamu, a fellow Nigerian and Saboo Siddrath of India 21-19, 21-15 in the finals. 

The tournament was used to upgrade players. Speaking at the end of the event, Badminton Kenya Secretary General Peter Gacheru said: “The event was a success but we could have done better with Government support. The Government needs to own sports and support players and federations.”


 

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