They have come from all over the world to vie for honours and the cash compliment at the World Table Tennis Contender Lagos, which kicks off at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, today.
 
The event, featuring 126 players, kicked off with the preliminary round at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the stadium, and on offer for the successful players is a share of the $100,000 prize money.
 
During a press briefing at the stadium yesterday, chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, expressed gratitude to the World Table Tennis (WTT) for selecting Lagos as a host city for the third consecutive edition.  He emphasised the tournament’s growing reputation and the unique energy brought by Lagos fans.
 
“We are excited that WTT has placed its trust in us to host the third edition of WTT Contender Lagos. This event has firmly placed Lagos on the global table tennis map, thanks to the passionate support of our fans. It’s become one of the most exciting stops on the WTT Contender circuit,” Oshodi said.
 
Oshodi, who also serves as President of ITTF Africa, highlighted the increasing competitiveness of the tournament, driven by the participation of top-tier international players.
 
He expressed hope for continued support from the Lagos State government and other partners to sustain the event’s growth.