Competition for the 46 gold medals available in the table tennis event of the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, began at the Alake Sports Centre at the weekend.
  
The table tennis competition features three categories of athletes, including able-bodied, para-athletes, and deaf athletes. Seven gold medals are available in the able-bodied category, while deaf athletes will contest for five gold medals. Para-athletes are competing for a whopping 34 gold medals across various events, including singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team events.
 
In the able-bodied category, athletes will compete in the singles (for men and women), doubles (for men and women), mixed doubles, and team events (for men and women). Deaf athletes will contest in singles (men and women), doubles (men and women), and mixed doubles.
 
The para-athletes category is divided into four team events—men’s classes 1–5 and 6–10, and women’s classes 1–5 and 6–10. There are also 18 singles events for men and women, eight doubles events, and four mixed doubles events.
 
The seeding list released before the commencement of the competition shows Delta State being dominant in both able-bodied and para-athlete categories.
 
Fatimo Bello of Delta State is the top seed in the women’s singles, while Bayelsa’s Olajide Omotayo leads the men’s singles. Lagos and Oyo states top the seedings in the deaf singles events.
 
According to the tournament referee, Lajide Ranti, this year’s tournament promises to be thrilling, especially with the inclusion of Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) by the National Sports Commission (NSC).