Badminton: Opeyori Sets Sight On Africa No 1 Ranking (AUDIO)

Africa no 2 men’s singles badminton player Anuoluwapo Opeyori says his target is to become the top ranked player on the continent ahead of the All Africa Senior Championships in Port Harcourt later this month.

The Nigeria no 1 player told www.busybuddiesng.com he is hoping to dethrone Africa’s no 1 Georges Paul of Mauritius at the showpiece tournament which starts on 22nd April and ends on the 28th of April at the Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Centre.

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“My target is to become the no 1 (player in Africa), to win this tournament and to represent the country very well because the task is mostly on me,” Opeyori said.

“I have to be ready and strong for the country. I can’t allow any other player to come to Nigeria and just take the title. No, I have to defend the country very well.”

The 21-year-old also informed www.busybuddiesng.com that he is ready for the tournament as preparations have been impressive so far.

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“I am very, very ready because I think the first thing is for me to believe in myself, which I have done. I think I am prepared enough to face any obstacle that is coming my way.

“The preparation has been solid, we have been preparing so hard even right from the beginning of the year. I started training on 2nd January (2019) because of this tournament. When I got here (Port Harcourt), it is an elevation for the coming tournament.”

Opeyori and his teammates have been in camp at the University of Port Harcourt High Performance Centre preparing for the forth-coming All Africa Senior Championships.