Lagos — Ondo State is the first team to crash out of the men's singles of the Oba Erediauwa Badminton Championship going on at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin. Edo dealt a 2-0 killer blow on them in the quarter final.

The defeat was so devastating to the morale of Captain Olaleyin Tomise. The captain of the Ondo team described the early exit as a disaster, saying it was too early to quit.

Tomise fell to the fire power of Tunji Animashaun 21-18, 21-17, but he felt Animashaun found him so easy to beat because Coach Tunde Ajibogun was not present to guide him. Coach Ajibogun actually led the Ondo team to Edo but had to rush back home to answer an urgent call.

"The Edo boys are too strong for us, I must tell you. They are far better than us. You know that they are among the tough players in the country.

"It would have been a different thing if my coach was around to guide me from the sidelines", Tomise said. Earlier Usman Bello of Edo also thrashed Oladapo of Ondo 2-0 (21-12, 21-7) to complete the rout.

Tomise however praised the team for getting to the quarter of the championship. He is however hoping to do better in the doubles.