Sanwo-Olu commends athletes, pledges continued support for championship

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised continuous support for the Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open Championship, which ended at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium at the weekend.

Speaking at the end of the final game, Sanwo-Olu, who praised the athletes for their remarkable performances, assured the tournament organisers and participants that Lagos will also be part of the event.

He said: “Our athletes continue to break boundaries, proving that physical limitations cannot constrain the boundless potential within each individual. This tournament is not only a celebration of skill and competition, but also an inspiring reminder of the strength, resilience, and courage that define our athletes.

“This event has given our athletes the unique opportunity to highlight their God-given talents, raise their rankings, and compete with their peers from across Africa and beyond. We are fortunate to have the recognition and support of esteemed organisations like the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), and the Africa Table Tennis Federation. Their endorsement has elevated the standards of this tournament, laid a strong foundation for continued growth, and increased participation. We are deeply grateful for their collaboration, which brings prestige and amplifies our collective efforts here in Lagos.”

On the final day of the competition, Nigeria and Iraq battled ferociously for laurels, claiming six gold medals apiece to come out tops in the event.

The ITTF Factor 20 tournament, held from November 7 to 9, featured competitors from the United Kingdom, Iraq, Iran, Cameroon, Togo, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, participating in both singles and doubles events.

Organised by the Sunday Odebode Foundation in collaboration with the Para Division of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and sponsored by ValueJet, this year’s tournament exceeded expectations.

Despite Nigeria’s strong performance throughout the tournament, the final day saw the visiting Iraqi team take centre stage, with the highlight being Muntadher Al Sarraji’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Paris 2024 Paralympic Games bronze medalist, Isau Ogunkunle, in the Men’s Singles Class 3-4 final.

The match, witnessed by African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) President, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, his deputy Alfred Bagueka, and Chairman of ValueJet Airlines, Kunle Soname, ended with Al Sarraji silencing the home crowd with a 13-11 win in the deciding game.

The performances of the players so thrilled the spectators on the final day that the organisers promised an even bigger tournament next year.

The President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN), Sunday Odebode, described the competition as rewarding, saying it has unearthed new stars for the country.

“We are thrilled that the tournament continues to grow by leaps and bounds. The registration this year was impressive, and we are happy to see the event attracting more players worldwide,” Odebode said.

The ITTF Para Manager, Pablo Perez, ITTF highlighted Nigeria’s growing influence in para table tennis, which has motivated the ITTF to support the tournament as one of the sanctioned events in Africa.

“We are particularly thrilled with the growth of para table tennis in Nigeria. The performance of Nigerian players in major international competitions is a testament to the country’s hard work.

“Nigeria is truly making a mark with Isau Ogunkunle being the only African medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We are proud to witness another tournament this year and commend Odebode and his team for their efforts,” Perez stated.

The tournament referee, Asko Rasinen, mentioned that over 30 players have been certified by classifiers, allowing them to kickstart their professional careers.