Top Nigerian para table tennis stars, including Isau Ogunkunle, Bolawa Akingbemisilu, and Faith Obiora, successfully defended their titles at the 7th ValueJet Lagos Para Table Tennis Championships, which concluded on Friday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
The week-long tournament featured athletes from Nigeria, Togo, and the Benin Republic, with Togo making a notable impression by securing two bronze medals.
In the women’s singles events, Faith Obiora retained her title in Class 5 after a solid victory over Kate Oputa, while African champion Kehinde Lawal claimed the top prize in Class 9. With reigning champion Faith Obazuaye absent, Ivie Edogiaweire capitalised on the opportunity to clinch the Class 10 title.
In the men’s category, Paris 2024 Paralympic-bound Bolawa Akingbemisilu showed his class in Class 5, defeating Lekan Abdullahi in straight sets (3-0). African medallist Isau Ogunkunle, Nigeria’s only para table tennis qualifier for Paris 2024, thrilled fans with a commanding 3-0 win over Timothy Umeh to reclaim the men’s Class 4 title.
Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Olufemi Alabi proved unstoppable in Class 10, while Abiola Adesope caused the tournament’s biggest upset with a 3-2 victory over Paralympic medallist Tajudeen Agunbiade in the fiercely contested men’s Class 9 final.
Togo’s Atisso Amele contributed to her nation’s medal haul by winning bronze in both the women’s singles and doubles (Class 5).
Since its inception in 2019, the ValueJet-sponsored championship has served as a vital platform for national team selection and talent development.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of ValueJet, Kunle Soname, reaffirmed the airline’s dedication to empowering para-athletes and fostering inclusion through sports.
The championship was organised by the Sunday Odebode Para Sport Foundation, in collaboration with the National Sports Commission.
