Nigeria Ranks 320 In Badminton Globally

Published

13 years ago

February 20, 2013

Nigeria’s number one badminton player, Jinkan Ifraimu, has been rated 320 with 3,370 points in the world by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in its latest rankings released recently.

Ifraimu, who ranked fourth in Africa has not been able to compete with his Ugandan counterpart, Edwin Ekiring, ranked 117 with 1, 3545 points in the world.

Ekiring is currently Africa’s number one player with 1, 4325 points, while Ifraimu ranked fourth with 4,290 points.

Other Nigerian players next to Ifraimu in the rankings are Eneojo Abah, ranked 356 in the world with 2,805 points and Victor Makanju, rated 539 with 1,392 points.

Reacting to the rankings, Abah said the number of international competitions attended determined players’ rankings and that Nigeria did not participate in enough international championships in 2012.

For the men singles, Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia is number one in the world with 9, 2848 points.

China’s Chen Long is two with 8, 2200 points and also his compatriot D.U. Pengyu is third with 6, 3416 points.

For the women’s singles, Nigeria’s Grace Gabriel is ranked 146 with 9, 642 points in the world, while Fatima Azeez, ranked 284 with 3, 428 points and Susan Ideh ranked 334 with 2,648 points.

Gabriel is ranked number one in Africa.

For the women’s singles, Li Xuerui of China is number one female player with 9, 4626 points while Saina Nehwal of India is number two with 8, 0461 points.

In the third place is China’s Wang Yihan with 7, 6852 points.

Lewandowski Leads Top Stars Missing From W/Cup Roll Call

Published

19 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)

One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.

Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.

Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.

He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.

Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)

Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.

Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.

Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)

Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season

Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.

But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.

But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)

Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season

Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.

Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.

With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.

Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)

Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season

Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.

But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.

Sports

Para Games: Team Rivers Wins 53 Medals On Day 5 … Director Praise Athletes

Published

21 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Rivers para team has been impressive in the third edition of the competition. The first-timers have made a significant impact on the games.

Speaking at the event, the State Director of Sports, Obia Inyingikabo, who is the leader of the contingent, has praised her athletes for their commitment and determination to make the state proud.

According to her, the impressive performance of the athletes is unprecedented despite the fact that they relatively prepared late for completion.

“I am not in doubt that team Rivers in this competition will finish tops,” Inyingikabo said.

Meanwhile, below are the medals won by the para team Rivers.

Para table tennis:

14 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze,

Shooting, 1 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze. Cycling: 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze. Swimming: 1 gold, 2 bronze, Badminton: 1 gold and 1 silver. Para powerlifting: 1 gold and 1 bronze; para athletics: 1 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze.

Tonye Orabere

Sports

Ondo Women Shine At Gov Diri Wrestling Classics

Published

21 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.

Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.

African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.

Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.

In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.

Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.

In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.