About 166 players from 27 countries will participate in the 9th Lagos International Badminton Classics, scheduled to take place from August 26 to 29.

The President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, who stated this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, said Nigeria was fully ready to host the competition.

The competition will hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), National Stadium, Lagos.

Mr Orbih described the level of international interest as encouraging.

“The response from participating countries has been very encouraging, and we are expecting 166 players from 27 countries to compete in this year’s tournament,” Mr Orbih said.

He disclosed that the tournament offered a total prize money of $20,000, underscoring the significance of the competition on the international badminton calendar.

“The prize money demonstrates the level of importance attached to this competition. We want the players to have every motivation to give their best and put on a great performance,” he said.

Mr Orbih expressed appreciation to the Director-General of the NIS, Phillip Shaibu, and the management of the institute for facilitating the use of the venue for the championship.

“We sincerely appreciate Shaibu and NIS management. Their support has been crucial to our preparations, and we are grateful for their cooperation,” he said.

Mr Orbih said the federation was committed to delivering a well-organised championship that would further enhance Nigeria’s reputation as a destination for major international badminton events.

(NAN)