Kwars State badminton coach, Jimoh Kehinde has said that the state's badminton team to the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival has gained valuable experience that would assist them win laurels for the state in the 19th edition in Calabar in 2014.

While analyzing the team's poor showing in Lagos, Kehinde lamented that they lost grounds to Kwara trained players, who includes Gideon Babalola, Fatai Salaudeen, Biodun Fagbemi and Clement Krobakpo, all of whom won the team event gold, with Clement and Gideon clashing in the singles event final.

'Our expectations were high before the festival, but we knew we had little chance against these players whom we trained, but have dumped us for other states' he said.

'But our players did not lose it all, as they have gained large stage experience ahead of the 2014 festival in Calabar.

On the whole, Kwara returned from Eko 2012 with one gold, one silver and nine bronze medals, which is not good enough, with poaching of Kwara athletes as well as unjust officiating been some of the factors that affected the state.

'Apart from poaching, officiating at the festival was also poor, but as technical men, we cannot complain much, because people would see it as an excuse for the failure. We are also used to the antics of desperate money bag states'.

He commended the Kwara state government for approving the state's participation in the festival, even as he said that much needs to be done ahead of the 2014 festival, which would post additional challenge because it would be an open festival.