Table Tennis
Nigeria’s Akingbemisilu dazzles at International Table tennis Masters Para Open in Italy
Nigeria’s Bolawa Akingbemisilu made his presence felt in his maiden international outing after upstaging some of the top players to settle for silver medal in class five division at the ITTF Lignano Masters Para Open 2023 concluded at the weekend in Italy.
However, settled for two silver and two bronze medals at the four-day F-20 ranking point championships. Akingbemisilu who was part of the 16-man team sponsored by the Delta State government to the first hurdle to Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in France.
Grouped alongside top rated players, he worked his way into the knockout stage where he caused one of the upsets after beating Commonwealth Games Jack Hunter 3-2 in the semifinal round.
Despite going down early in the game, the Nigerian fought back to beat the world number five and booked his place in the final against Serbia’s Mitar Palikuca.
Like he did in the semifinal, Akingbemisilu did not start well against the world number six but he rallied back and his efforts could not help him from losing the gold medal to the Serbian at 3-1.
The performance of Akingbemisilu was lauded by ITTF who tipped the Nigerian for the African title in near future.
Also, Commonwealth silver medalist Isau Ogunkunle earned the second silver in men’s class four after losing 3-2 in the final to Japan’s Kazuki Shichino. Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi settled for bronze in the women’s class five while Kehinde Lawal also claimed bronze in the women’s class nine.
According to the team manager, Sunday Odebode, the players gave a good account of themselves among some of the top players in the world as some of them were making their maiden international outing.
Specifically, Odebode thanked the Delta State government for their immense support and ensuring that the team took part in the tournament which served as a pathway to the Paralympic Games.
“We hope that we can have another opportunity to compete in another tournament like this before the African Paralympic qualifying tournament in Egypt come September.
“With their participation here, they have gained valuable points that will aid their eventual qualification to Paris.
“We thank Governor Okowa and Delta State Sports Commission for their huge backing to be part of this trip and we hope to win more laurels in major competitions like this,” he added.
Nigeria is the only African team that competed alongside 33 other countries with over 300 athletes competing in 39 events made up of singles and doubles divisions.
The ancient town of Otan Ayegbaju will once again take centre stage in Nigerian table tennis when it hosts the 6th Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Tournament from April 12 to 17, 2026.
The six-day championship, scheduled to take place at the iconic Idera Multipurpose Hall, has grown into one of the most prestigious events on the country’s table tennis calendar.
Established in honour of the late Michael and Felicia Alabi, the annual tournament has evolved beyond its memorial origins to become a major platform for discovering and developing emerging talent while giving established players the opportunity to reaffirm their dominance.
Over the years, the competition has served as an important bridge between grassroots participation and elite performance, attracting players from across the country and helping to strengthen Nigeria’s table tennis pipeline.
The 2026 edition is expected to be the biggest yet, with more than 250 players from all 36 states of the federation set to converge on the Osun State town.
Participants will compete across several categories ranging from U-15 singles to veteran, para and deaf divisions, reflecting the tournament’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity in sports.
Young prospects, experienced professionals, veterans, para-athletes and deaf athletes will compete side by side, creating a diverse and competitive environment that organisers say embodies the values of unity, resilience and excellence.
Beyond the competition itself, the tournament is also expected to attract coaches, scouts, administrators and table tennis enthusiasts from across Nigeria, reinforcing its growing reputation as a talent-development platform.
The influx of athletes and visitors is also anticipated to boost economic activity in the host community, with hotels, transport services and local businesses preparing to welcome guests during the week-long event.
Organisers believe the presence of top-level competition in the town will inspire young people in the community, giving them the opportunity to witness elite table tennis firsthand and potentially sparking interest in the sport among the next generation.
The event is supported by the Osun State Government, the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation and the Osun State Table Tennis Association.
As anticipation builds, fans and stakeholders are preparing for six days of intense competition, tactical brilliance and memorable moments when the 2026 Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Tournament returns to Otan Ayegbaju next month.
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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has tasked the newly inaugurated board of the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF) to channel resources toward the growth of grassroots and school sports, as well as broader sporting activities across the state.
The governor gave the charge on Wednesday, February 18, during the board’s inauguration at Lagos House, Marina.
The LSSTF board is chaired by former Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development and current President of the International Table Tennis Federation Africa, Enitan Oshodi, while Olaposi Agunbiade will serve as Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer.
Other board members include Olabode Agoro, Adeniyi Adekoya, Gbolahan Onibuje, Jubril Gawat, Kikelomo Bolarinwa, Olayemi Sarumi, Lekan Fatodu, Moshood Ajide and Engr. Ibrahim Adigun, Chairman of the Chairmen of Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.
Focus on Institutions and Funding
Addressing the board, Sanwo-Olu urged members to leverage their professional expertise and networks to build a strong and enduring sports institution for Lagos.
“The mandate is straightforward — to support funding in sports and establish strong institutions for today and future generations,” the governor said. “I implore you to deploy resources into grassroots and school sports, and to enhance facilities across our divisions. This quasi-body can also reach out to the private sector, drawing on government experience to attract wider support.”
He stressed the importance of institutional strength and sustainable funding models in positioning Lagos as a leading sports hub.
Private Sector Partnership Key
In his remarks, Oshodi underscored the need to create sustainable funding pathways to support sports infrastructure and athlete development across the state.
“The Lagos State Government is spending a lot on sports, but in a megacity of over 20 million people, it is never enough,” he said. “We need facilities to support athletes, and the private sector’s involvement is crucial. With the capacity of this board, we are confident of securing that support.”
Oshodi added that while the board is focused on achieving immediate successes, its broader objective is to lay the foundation for long-term and sustainable sports development in Lagos.
The LSSTF was established to mobilise additional funding and partnerships to complement government investment in sports, with particular emphasis on youth development, infrastructure improvement and talent identification across the state’s divisions.
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Omar Assar reaffirmed his dominance of African table tennis on Monday as he clinched a record seventh men’s singles title at the ITTF Africa Cup in Benghazi, Libya, while teenage star Hana Goda continued her remarkable rise by securing her fourth women’s singles crown.
Assar was imperious throughout the tournament, completing a flawless run without dropping a single set across six matches.
The Egyptian swept most of his opponents 3–0 or 4–0 and sealed the title with a commanding 4–0 victory (12–10, 11–8, 11–7, 11–7) over Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa in the final, successfully defending the crown he reclaimed in 2025. His triumph further cemented his status as the only male player to win the Africa Cup seven times.
Despite the defeat, Bouloussa enjoyed a historic campaign, becoming the first Algerian to reach the Africa Cup final. The 22-year-old produced one of the tournament’s standout performances in the semifinals, edging Nigeria’s five-time champion Quadri Aruna 4–3. Bouloussa is set to make his debut at the ITTF World Cup in Macao next month.
In the women’s singles, Goda—still the youngest-ever Africa Cup champion at just 14—was equally dominant. The Egyptian teenager brushed aside her compatriot and nine-time title holder Dina Meshref 4–0 (12–10, 11–3, 11–7, 11–9) in the final to retain her title and extend her unbeaten run on the continent.
Algeria’s teenage prodigy Tania Morice also emerged as one of the revelations of the competition. Building on her cadet title at the Africa Youth Championships in Lagos last year, Morice finished among the top four in Benghazi to secure her first ITTF World Cup ticket. She defeated experienced opponents, including Nigeria’s Fatimo Bello, Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana and Tunisia’s Abir Haj Salah en route to the semifinals.
Overwhelmed by her breakthrough, Morice described the achievement as “incredible,” adding that the support of her coaches, teammates and parents had been crucial to her rapid rise.
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