Anuoluwapo Opeyori is one of the 173 badminton players who have secured a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
His qualification means that he is the first Nigerian player to qualify for two Olympic Games after featuring at the delayed Tokyo 2020.
The list released by the Badminton World Federation includes 166 regular quota places (83 men and 83 women), three universality places from the IOC Tripartite Commission (two men and one woman), plus an additional place for IOC Refugee Olympic Team athlete Dorsa Yavarivata, whose participation was confirmed earlier this month in a special announcement by the IOC.
Opeyori dominated Africa in the men’s singles from 2019 till date, winning four African Championship titles and two African Games titles.
The elated President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, said on Saturday that Anuoluwapo Opeyori had broken the jinx in Nigerian badminton by making it to the Olympic Games in Paris.
Orbih said Opeyori’s qualification shows that the current leadership of BFN’s target of producing world-class players is beginning to manifest.
He revealed that BFN will leave no stone unturned in supporting the dreams and aspirations of the young players to make podium finishes.
Orbih said, “History has been made in badminton as Anuoluwapo Opeyori has secured a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the release made by the Badminton World Federation.
“I am excited and full of joy because Anuoluwapo Opeyori is the first Nigerian badminton player to feature in the men’s singles at the Olympic Games and also the first Nigerian to attend two Olympics back-to-back.
“Three years ago, it was Dorcas Adesokan in the women’s singles and Opeyori with his partner Godwin Olofua in the men’s doubles that made it to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Today, Anuoluwapo Opeyori will represent Nigeria in the men’s singles; the leadership of BFN and Nigeria are proud of him.”
Orbih charged Anuoluwapo Opeyori not to relent but to continue to train and attain top form ahead of the Olympic Games.
He said, “I want to urge Anuoluwapo Opeyori to continue training hard for the Games; we are going to ensure he attends training tours before the Olympic Games.”
Olaitan Ibrahim