A two-day coaching clinic will herald the fifth Dr. Adegboyega Efunkoya Cadet Table Tennis Championships, which begins today at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, the organisers have said.
 
According to the organisers, the clinic aims to fine-tune the athletes’ skills and familiarise them with the latest techniques in the sport. Top table tennis coaches from across the country will conduct the clinic, which will feature athletes from various regions.
   
The spokesperson for the Efunkoya Foundation, Ranti Lajide, stated that the clinic, initiated in 2023, is designed to prepare athletes for the main tournament.
 
“We are aware of the new techniques in the sport and it behooves us to let the players be conversant with them. This is why we have decided to continue with the clinic. Observing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where French teenager Felix Lebrun became the youngest medalist at 17 in the history of table tennis, we aim to produce new stars who can balance education with their sporting talents,” Lajide said.
 
The yearly contest aligns with the ideals of the late Efunkoya, whose tenure as President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) unearthed numerous stars for the country. 

The organisers emphasised Efunkoya’s strong belief in the importance of education for young table tennis players, inspiring them to continue providing educational scholarships for the winners in the boys’ and girls’ singles categories.
 
To encourage more participation, the organisers will provide accommodation and meals for the participants, who will contest for five titles, including the singles (boys and girls), doubles (boys and girls), and mixed doubles events. The event is funded by former players and table tennis enthusiasts from within and outside the country.
 
The late Efunkoya, a surgeon and medical practitioner, became involved in table tennis administration in 1962 and was elected Chairman of the then Nigeria Table Tennis Association in 1963.