The sixth yearly Adegboyega Efunkoya National Cadet Table Tennis Championships will hold from August 12 to 16 at the National Stadium, and Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, the organisers have said.

Spokesperson for the Efunkoya Sports Foundation, organisers of the competition, Ranti Lajide, yesterday, disclosed that this year’s tournament, themed “Producing Educated Champions,” will feature a unique blend of competition and mentorship.

He added that former Nigerian table tennis stars from around the world are expected to return to mentor and inspire the next generation of players at the tournament.

Lajide noted that the 2025 edition will serve as a preparatory event for the upcoming Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, later this month, adding, that so far, 16 boys’ clubs and 13 girls’ clubs from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Edo, Niger, Osun, and Kwara states have confirmed participation in both the clinic and the tournament.

A two-day training clinic, led by six top national coaches, will precede the competition. Alongside the clinic, a mentorship programme will run to support the holistic development of the young athletes.

Quarterfinalists in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will earn automatic qualification for the second edition of the Atanda Musa National Invitational Top 16 Classic.

He said, “We’re proud of the impact this tournament has had since its inception. Several alumni are now part of the senior national team,” Lajide noted. “Matthew Kuti, the inaugural boys’ champion, is now the national champion.

In the girls’ category, players like Aishat Rabiu and Favour Ojo have progressed to the junior national team after competing in previous editions.”