Nigeria, May 22 -- In what turned out to be a pulsating showdown at the Alake Sports Complex, Ogun State's women's badminton team, led by Olympian and multiple African Championships medallist Dorcas Adesokan, delivered a gripping 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Edo State to claim gold in the team event at the ongoing National Sports Festival.

The victory marked a significant triumph for the hosts and a personal redemption arc for Adesokan, who had previously missed out on the coveted team gold at the last Sports Festival in Asaba.

The matchup, featuring Nigeria's top-ranked players, had all the elements of a classic and set the tone for what promises to be a high-octane badminton tournament.

With Dorcas Adesokan, former national number on...