Multipurpose Badminton club Bauchi hosts 10th Yankari tournament

By Mohammed Kaka Misau

The Multipurpose Badminton club Bauchi has hosted the 10th edition of the annual Yankari Badminton tournament held at the Yankari game reserve in Bauchi during the weekend.

Speaking to newsmen on the 10th Yankari Badminton tournament, Chairman of Team Yonex Badminton Club, Nigeria, Dr. Abubakar Musa said the event was held annually in December consistently since 2014.

Dr. Abubakar, who recalled that only that of 2021, was not held due to COVID-19 explained that the event is a well organized one that usually brings together players from various parts of the country.

He said, Yankari apart from being a tourist resort, also has some sporting facilities coupled with the quiet nature of the environment and the wild animals is very conducive for relaxation and sporting activities like the annually held Yankari Badminton tournament.

He commended the Multipurpose Badminton club in Bauchi for hosting the tournament for the past ten years for organizing the tournament with support from the mother association, the Association of Badminton clubs in Nigeria and the Bauchi state government.

“We, as participants from various clubs, would like to appreciate the state government for the support and the effort of the Multipurpose Badminton club in organizing and sustaining the annual badminton tournament”, Dr Abubakar said.

While describing the hosting of the tournament as not an easy one, Dr. Abubakar recalled that not long ago, the Multipurpose Badminton club organized another tournament in Bauchi where the ABCIN election was held to usher-in new Executive Committee members.

While recalling himself participating in the tournament over the years, I encourage the multipurpose badminton club to continue to organize the tournament to ensure the progress of the game.

He said that the game has recorded steady improvement in terms of organization, adding that the quality of the games has continued to be of very high standard.

“Even the prizes that are awarded during the tournaments have continued to be better each passing year,” Dr. Abubakar reiterated.

He said a lot of the players wouldn’t have visited Yankari if the tournament had not been held, adding that hundreds of players got the opportunity to visit Yankari as a result of the tournament.

Talking on the health benefits of playing badminton, Dr. Abubakar said physical exercise of any kind is good for the health of a player.

“If you engage yourself in any kind of sport or exercise, it is very good for your health and that’s why there is what we call lifestyle medicine whereby if you engage yourself in good sporting activities, it will help you to withstand quite a number of diseases. Even if you have conditions like diabetes, like cardiac problem, you are encourage to do exercise to keep you fit and boost your immunity to fight some of these diseases” the Chairman, Team Yonex Nigeria said.

He said, “In addition to losing weight, badminton game helps one to remain fit especially as one gets older. That is why you can see here, we have first class monarchs, military personnel of the rank of generals and other ranks, high-ranking civil servants, and businessmen, among others. “

Dr. Abubakar who explained that the game of badminton has advantages over other games, stressed that an elderly person who can not play games such as football due to age can afford to play badminton.

“For instance, most of us at this age can not play more strenuous sports such as football but still can play badminton as it is a game that can be played throughout one’s life even at 80s. It can be played from childhood to old age, unlike football and other games, “he said.

Dr Abubakar further explained that the badminton competition is played on the bases of age bracket that differentiate older players from the younger ones.

“The reason is because what a younger player can do, an older player can not withstand the stress. That is why the competition is categorised according to age bracket, ” he pointed out.

Dr. Abubakar, who further disclosed that as the name implies, “Association of Badminton Clubs In Nigeria (ABCIN), it will continue to be a uniting factor in the country.

“Badminton is a sport out of the numerous sports that are played globally. Within the badminton Community, Association of Badminton Clubs In Nigeria (ABCIN) has succeeded in bringing people together from various parts of the country such that without it, we wouldn’t have known each other”, he said.

Dr. Abubakar urged ABCIN to collaborate with other games through the Ministry of Sports to encourage others to form clubs that will bring people together in unity.