Hosts Nigeria and Iraq each claimed six gold medals, dominating the 2024 Lagos Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open, which concluded on Saturday, November 9, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

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. Organized 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 center stage. The highlight was 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, 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.

In total, Nigeria and Iraq each secured six gold medals from the 12 events contested. The organizers have promised an even bigger tournament next year.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, praised the athletes for their remarkable performances and pledged continued support for the tournament and its participants. “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,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu added, “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 organizations 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.”

This year’s tournament showcased the remarkable skills of physically challenged athletes, who demonstrated unwavering dedication and perseverance. The event also unearthed new talents who made their mark on the para table tennis scene.

“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,” said Sunday Odebode, President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN).

The Lagos State Government’s continued support for the tournament was evident, with officials in attendance to show solidarity with the athletes.

As the curtains close on the 2024 ValueJet Para Table Tennis Competition, athletes and organizers are already looking forward to next year’s edition. The event’s success has paved the way for Nigerian para table tennis players to make their mark on the international stage.

Pablo Perez, ITTF Para Manager, 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.

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

Quadri Aruna faces another formidable challenge as he takes on Germany’s Richardo Walther on Wednesday in the second round of the Men’s Singles at the WTT Champions Frankfurt. 

The Nigerian, currently ranked world No. 21, made headlines by stunning world No. 8 Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan with a thrilling 3-2 comeback in his opening match at the Süwag Energie Arena.

Aruna’s victory over Harimoto marks his second win at the WTT Champions, following his first triumph at the WTT Champions Montpellier last week.

Meanwhile, Walther, making his debut at the WTT Champions, had a dream start by defeating Spain’s Alvaro Robles 3-0 (11-6, 12-10, 11-9) in the first round on Tuesday, November 5.

The upcoming match is set to be a familiar encounter, as Aruna and Walther have previously faced each other in the German Bundesliga.

 A win for Aruna would be historic, making him the first African male player to reach the quarterfinal stage of the WTT Champions, a feat achieved by Egypt’s Hana Goda in the women’s category at the WTT Champions Montpellier.

The clash promises to be explosive, with the world No. 60 Walther taking on the world No. 21 Aruna.

The home fans will undoubtedly support their local hero against the “adopted” Nigerian star, who has become a household name in Germany following his remarkable performance at the 2014 ITTF World Cup in Düsseldorf, where he became the first African to reach the quarterfinal stage.

Aruna’s success in the German Bundesliga has paved the way for many African players to join the lucrative league, and he remains a fan favourite across Germany.

However, the immense support Aruna receives against Harimoto might be less when he faces Walther in what promises to be a battle royale.

In other news, Egyptian teenager Hana Goda was eliminated in the first round of the Women’s Singles by her experienced Chinese opponent He Zhuojia, who won 3-1 (11-2, 11-1, 8-11, 11-4).

Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna electrified the Süwag Energie Arena with a remarkable performance on the opening day of the WTT Champions Frankfurt 2024.

Aruna, ranked 21st in the world, pulled off a stunning 3-2 comeback victory against Japan’s No. 5 seed, Tomokazu Harimoto, with scores of (7-11, 11-13, 11-5, 14-12, 11-3).

This victory marked Aruna’s significant win of the day, thrilling the German fans with what can be described as one of his best displays in recent times. 

Despite Harimoto’s strong start, winning the first two games, Aruna’s resilience shone through. 

He fought back fiercely, much to the admiration of the crowd, and forced a decider.

In the fifth and final game, Aruna played with immense confidence and freedom, dominating the fast exchanges and shifting the momentum firmly in his favour. 

His powerful backhand at 10-3 sealed the match, earning him a place in the round of 16 and his second-ever match win at the WTT Champions level, following his first win in Montpellier last week.

Aruna’s never-say-die attitude and exceptional skill left the German fans cheering, as he continues to blaze a trail for African table tennis on the global stage.

Being their fifth meeting on the international stage, Harimoto had an edge with three wins, while Aruna had two victories.

In the round of 16, Aruna will face the winner between Spain’s Alvaro Robles and Germany’s Richardo Walther.

However, 2024 African Champion Omar Assar of Egypt failed to go beyond the first round of the Men’s Singles after losing to Sweden’s Anton Kallberg 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-3), while his compatriot, Dina Meshref, who returned to international action in Frankfurt after missing the continental tournament in Ethiopia last month, fell to China’s Chen Xingtong 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-3) in the Women’s Singles.

On Tuesday, November 4, the first African to reach the quarterfinal of the WTT Champions, Hana Goda of Egypt will take on tournament’s wildcard He Zhuojia in the first round of the Women’s Singles.

$500,000 is on the table, with the singles champions each coming away with $30,000 and 1000 ITTF Table Tennis World Ranking points.