It was a thrilling end to the three-day Second Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships, where unseeded Oyo State team, against all expectations, took the crown at the event held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, at the weekend.

Led by the dynamic duo of Wasiu Azeez and Halima Hussein, Oyo defied the odds to reach the final alongside another unseeded team, Bayelsa State, outplaying top-seeded teams such as Lagos, Edo, and Kwara.

The final, witnessed by the tournament’s financier and sponsor, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, showcased thrilling rallies and dazzling skills that captivated spectators.

Oyo took an early lead by winning the mixed doubles, but Bayelsa’s Hope Udoaka leveled the score. Azeez then delivered a spirited comeback, overturning a 1-0 deficit to defeat Samuel Boboye 3-1.

Hussein, alongside her women’s doubles partner Khadijat Okanlawon, sealed the victory by defeating Udoaka and Iyanuoluwa Falana, securing a 3-1 triumph for Oyo.

In the third-place match, Kwara bounced back from their semifinal loss with a dominant 3-0 win over Lagos Team 2, clinching the bronze medal at the N5.5 million prize money event.

Senator Abiru, in his closing remarks, praised the athletes for their outstanding performances and reaffirmed his commitment to the championship’s growth.

“This tournament has once again shown that when we create the right environment for our youth, talent flourishes, friendships blossom, and excellence thrives. Throughout the championship, we witnessed an abundance of passion, skill, and sportsmanship. Our athletes from across Nigeria and other parts of Africa reminded us of the beauty of competition and the unity that sports can foster,” he said.

Looking ahead, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Table_Tennis_Championships promised an even more expansive edition in 2026. “We are already preparing to make the next edition bigger, better, and more inclusive. Our goal is to position the Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships as a premier sporting event in Africa—one that places Lagos East, Lagos State, and Nigeria firmly on the continental sports map.”