Nigerian badminton star and former African number one player, Ephraim Bulu Jinkam has said that missing the 2012 London Olympics is his saddest moment in the game. Jinkam revealed this in a chat with news men, he said he missed the 2012 Olympics due to a nagging knee injury.
He also said his decision to switch from singles to doubles event was informed by age which he said is no longer on his side as far as the game is concerned. The player who won gold in doubles at last year’s Katsina National Open said playing singles requires so much energy and fitness but he can’t boast of the capacity to meet such requirements.

He said since he is not yet ready to quit the sport that has brought him so much fame, he decided to change to doubles which he reiterated is less demanding. Apart from age, Jinkam also said several injuries picked during his illustrious career have combined to slow him down.


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“Although I am not getting younger, I still have a lot to offer the game so I am not ready to quit immediately. What I have decided to do is to concentrate on doubles for now. “Last year I won gold in doubles at the Katsina National Open. It was a fantastic feeling. I have settled for doubles because in singles, there is hardly breathing space.

“However, doubles gives one the opportunity to take a breather when his mate is playing. It is the best for players like us who are aging in the sport. “Nobody can cheat nature. Having spent so many years playing singles, doubles and mixed doubles, the body is now complaining so I have to slow down. I want to conserve my remaining energy in order to play more tournaments before I bow out,” said the Taraba State born badminton star. Jinkam, therefore, advised upcoming players to try and concentrate on one event instead of attempting to be ‘Jack of all trades’. He said when they choose one event, they would save themselves unnecessary injuries and also perform optimally.

“I want to advise the younger players not to repeat the same mistake some of us made. They can’t play everything and last long enough to achieve their dreams in the game. “They should try and specialise in one event. That is what the Asians and Europeans do to excel. They don’t play everything.

But here the same player plays singles, mixed doubles, doubles and it weighs him down,” he advised.