Tumishe Olaleyin, the head coach of the badminton team representing Ondo State at the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba 2023, shares the team’s experiences and future aspirations.
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He said Ondo State participated in the senior national sports festival in Asaba last year and commended the efforts of the Delta State government and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports in providing athletes, especially first-timers, with an improved and memorable experience in terms of accommodation, organization, and overall game quality.
Speaking about his team’s performance, Olaleyin expressed enthusiasm, saying, “My team has been performing exceptionally well. By the grace of God, Ondo State has clinched the champion title in the youth games for over four years. We are continuing our success in badminton as well, with our girls’ doubles team currently in the semi-finals, set to compete against Ogun State.”
Olaleyin highlighted the positive impact of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) in supporting and motivating young players.
He mentioned that the BFN, represented by its technical director and board members, closely monitored the matches and awarded training scholarships and funds to emerging talents.
This support serves as a powerful encouragement for budding players.
He also emphasized that the games are running smoothly, creating a familial atmosphere among the players. Olaleyin looked forward to the ongoing matches, where the winners would be awarded medals on the event’s final day.
When asked about Ondo State’s ambitions to retain the gold as defending champions, Olaleyin welcomed the idea of healthy competition, stating, “That’s what we are looking forward to. It can’t always be us. This is a U-15 tournament, and sometimes, players who used to dominate this tournament may have aged out. We brought a new set of players, aged between 11 and 13 years, to showcase their talent.”
Regarding future plans, Olaleyin affirmed Ondo State’s commitment to developing grassroots badminton. He expressed gratitude for the support from the BFN president, technical directors, and board members, vowing not to disappoint them.
He acknowledged the history of discovering remarkable talents through the National Youth Games and looked forward to nurturing even more players in the future, given the young talent pool present at the event.
