Bago Badminton Tourney Targets Discovery of Grassroots Talents — Kolo

The maiden Bago North Central Badminton Tournament is aimed at discovering and nurturing young talents from the grassroots for national and international competitions, Alhaji Mohammed Nma Kolo, Chairman, Niger State Badminton Association, has said.
Kolo, who is also the North Central Zonal Representative of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), stated this on Tuesday in Minna at the opening of the five-day tournament.
He said the competition brought together athletes, coaches and officials from Niger, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa and Plateau states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to him, the participants comprise teenagers, mainly secondary school students aged between 13 and 18, and veteran players competing in various categories for trophies and cash prizes.
Kolo said the tournament was conceived as part of efforts to take badminton to the grassroots and create opportunities for young people to discover and develop their talents.
“Since my assumption of office as Chairman of the Niger State Badminton Association, my focus has been very clear: take badminton back to the grassroots.
“Sport must not be for the few. It must start in our schools, in our communities and in all the 25 Local Government Areas of Niger.
“To the glory of God, that hard work is now producing results. Today, Niger State and the North Central Zone have produced top-rated stars who are proudly representing Nigeria both at home and on the international stage,” he said.
He said the development demonstrated that sustained investment in grassroots sports could provide a pathway for talented athletes to progress to the national and international levels.
The chairman described the tournament as a direct product of the association’s grassroots development vision, adding that it was the largest gathering of badminton players in the North Central Zone in recent history.
He said the tournament would also promote unity among badminton stakeholders across the zone and provide an avenue for athletes to interact, compete and learn from one another.
Kolo disclosed that one of the long-term objectives of the competition was to establish an annual North Central Badminton Championship that would serve as a platform for talent discovery and development.
According to him, the tournament is expected to produce the next generation of national and international badminton stars, including potential Olympians.