Joe
Paris: In a challenging start to his campaign, Nigeria’s badminton star and team captain, Anuoluwapo Opeyoria, was defeated 2-0 in his opening match of Group N at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Opeyoria fell to Switzerland’s Tobias Kuenzi with scores of 20/22 and 14/21 at La Chapelle Arena on Tuesday night.
This marks Opeyoria’s second Olympic appearance, following his debut at Tokyo 2020. The two-time African Games Champion faces a tough challenge next as he takes on world number 6, Li Shi Feng of China. To advance to the next round, Opeyori will need to achieve a significant upset.
Despite the setback, Opeyoria has had an impressive year, winning both the African Individual Championships and the African Games.
His victory at the African Championships was his third consecutive win and fourth overall, and he successfully defended his gold medal at the African Games. Additionally, he reached the semifinals of the Uganda International.
Reflecting on his recent performances before hitting Paris, Opeyoria said, “I feel this is the best I’ve played in my career. Maybe I was in a good mental state. Last year I trained at New Vision Academy in Malaysia for two-three weeks, so I was able to get a better understanding of the game. With the coach’s guidance, I got to know my weaknesses and worked on them. I was able to add a new logic to my game.”
Having competed in men’s doubles at Tokyo 2020, Opeyoria’s participation in Paris 2024 is another significant milestone in his career. He hopes that his experiences in Paris will be as defining as those in Tokyo, shaping his journey in the sport.
