Kwara State’s Abdulbasit Abdulfatai and Cross River’s Hope Udoaka emerged as the new champions in the men’s and women’s singles events at the fifth edition of the National Table Tennis Championships, concluding a thrilling five-day tournament.
The championship, hosted in Otan Ayegbaju, showcased intense competition, unexpected upsets, and the rise of new talent.
Both defending champions were ousted in the quarterfinals, clearing the way for new stars to shine.
Abdulfatai seized the moment in the men’s final, delivering a dominant 4-0 victory (12-10, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7) against surprise finalist Matthew Fabunmi. His consistent and commanding play secured the men’s singles title for Kwara State.
In the women’s category, Hope Udoaka confirmed her growing reputation with a confident 4-1 win (11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7) over Oyo’s Halima Hussain. The victory marks Udoaka’s first national title and signals her as a rising force in Nigerian table tennis.
Emerging Talent in the U-15 Category
The championship also spotlighted future stars in the U-15 division. Lagos’ Ifeoluwa Ajasa clinched the girls’ title with a 3-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7) win over Edo’s Deborah Faleye. On the boys’ side, Kogi’s Marvelous Joseph triumphed 3-1 (11-9, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8) against Osun’s Umar Ayoola.
A Festival of Sport and Community
Tournament referee John Peter described this year’s event as a unique blend of sport and celebration. “The fifth edition of the Michael and Felicia Alabi Table Tennis Festival wasn’t just about competition, it was about community. From the fall of defending champions to the enthusiastic involvement of university volunteers, it truly felt like a festival. The standard of play continues to rise each year,” he remarked.
The closing ceremony was graced by top dignitaries, including Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Adewale Egbedun, and the royal father of Otan Ayegbaju, HRM Oba Adesola Ojo Fadipe.
National Participation and Support
Sanctioned by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation and organised by the Osun State Table Tennis Association.
The event which featured a total prize pool of 11.5 million naira attracted players from over 20 states including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Adamawa, and Zamfara and top clubs such as Aruna Sports Club, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Police Force.
