Table Tennis
Paralympians chase titles at 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championships
Paralympians Isau Ogunkunle and Faith Obazuaye top the list of participants at the 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championship, which kicks off on Monday, January 27, in Lagos.
Regarded as the longest-running table tennis tournament in Africa, having started in 1968, the tournament will, for the first time, be played nationally. Players from 21 states and 67 clubs will compete for honours in 13 events.
Africa’s sole medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Ogunkunle, will lead the Ogun State contingent to the six-day tournament as he aims to become the first player in class 1 to 5 to win the Men’s Singles title.
Additionally, two-time Paralympian and Commonwealth Games medalist, Obazuaye, will travel from Benin City, Edo State, to compete in what promises to be a gathering of the best in the Women’s Class 6 to 10 para event.
More than 350 players from across the country will descend on Lagos to compete for the improved prize purse at stake. This competition continues to produce some of Nigeria’s finest table tennis players.
A confident Ogunkunle believes that making the tournament national will allow para players to test their skills against one another. He expressed optimism about his chances of claiming the national title. “We have a lot of players already confirmed for the tournament, and this is a good development for us as para players, as the best players in the country are in Lagos. I must commend the family of Okoya-Thomas for opening up the tournament for us. This is another platform for us to showcase our talents and assess ourselves as players,” he said.
Tournament referee John Peters noted that the turnout is the highest in the history of any national tournament. “I am excited about the turnout this year, as the tournament has become a national event. I am particularly overwhelmed by the number of participants, and this will surely allow the national handlers to scout for a new set of players who will be groomed to become world beaters. It promises to be exciting, considering the quality of players and the turnout for the championships,” he said.
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President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, has expressed strong optimism ahead of this year’s ITTF-Africa Championships, saying the event will showcase some of the continent’s best talents in peak form.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, which runs from October 12 to 19 at the Rades Multisports Hall in Tunis, Oshodi praised the Tunisian Table Tennis Federation (FTTT) for stepping up to host after Rwanda’s late withdrawal, describing the North African nation as a reliable partner with a proven record of organizing world-class events.
“There’s no doubt this year’s tournament will be fiercely contested, especially given the current form of our players and the emergence of talented youth athletes,” Oshodi said.
He highlighted the growing strength of young African players, many of whom featured at the recent Youth Tournaments in Lagos, noting that several of them have now broken into their national senior teams for the continental showpiece.
“We’re particularly thrilled that many junior players who featured at the recent Youth Tournaments in Lagos have earned spots on their national teams for Tunis. This shows they’re maturing and ready to challenge the veterans,” he explained. “I expect upsets in Tunis and look forward to seeing some of these young stars rise to the top.”
The 2024 ITTF-Africa Championships also serve as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in London, an edition that will mark the centenary of the sport, returning to the city where both the International Table Tennis Federation and the first World Championships were founded in 1926.
Oshodi noted that while emerging stars are expected to light up the competition, the experience of established players will bring depth and drama to the tournament.
“We must also acknowledge the experience of our established players, which will make the tournament even more exciting,” he said. “The atmosphere in Tunis will rival any global event. Tunisia is a seasoned host with a strong track record, and we’re eager for the tournament to kick off on October 12.”
The team event, which doubles as a qualification pathway for London 2026, is expected to be one of the major highlights, with top-ranked African nations such as Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria among the favourites.
This year’s championship promises high-stakes action across seven categories: men’s team, women’s team, men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Over eight days of competition, Africa’s finest will battle for continental supremacy, ranking points, and a chance to represent the continent on the world stage.
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The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has elected Dr. Adesoji Tayo as its new president following the conclusion of the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja on Saturday, October 4.
Dr. Tayo, who previously served as Vice President of the federation, succeeds Ishaku Tikon, whose eight-year tenure came to an end after steering the affairs of Nigerian table tennis through two terms.
Chairman of the Oyo State Table Tennis Association, Dr. Tayo emerged unopposed after his main challenger, Khamisu Ahmed from Gombe State, stepped down and was subsequently named the new Vice President.
With his election, Dr. Tayo joins the growing ranks of passionate table tennis enthusiasts who have taken leadership roles in the sport’s administration.
He is expected to bring renewed energy and direction to the NTTF over the next four years, building on the developmental strides achieved under his predecessor.
The new leadership is anticipated to focus on grassroots development, international competitiveness, and strengthening state associations to sustain Nigeria’s rich legacy in the sport.
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Following his last outing at the 2023 ITTF World Championships in Durban, South Africa, Taiwo Mati makes a return to Nigeria’s national team as the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) announces a 10-man squad for the 2025 ITTF African Championships, scheduled to take place in Tunis, Tunisia, from October 12 to 19.
The continental event serves as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships in London, United Kingdom—a landmark edition marking the centenary of the World Championships, which will return to the city where it all began in 1926.
Mati, who plays professionally in Europe, earned his spot after a strong performance at the 2025 West Regional Championships, where he finished among the top four, edging out Muiz Adegoke.
He joins a formidable lineup that includes Africa’s top-ranked player, Quadri Aruna; 2019 African Games gold medalist, Olajide Omotayo; two-time West African champion, Matthew Kuti; and rising talent Abdulbasit Abdulfatai.
Despite being one of Africa’s standout performers at Durban 2023, Mati had been absent from the national team for two years.
His semifinal finish at the regional tournament in Lagos last July marked a successful comeback for the left-handed star.
The women’s team features promising young players, including Favour Ojo, Aishat Rabiu, Kabirat Ayoola, and Sukurat Aiyelabegan. Veteran Ajoke Ojomu will lead the squad as captain in Tunis.
NTTF Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, emphasized the importance of early exposure for young athletes:
“We believe that exposing these young players to top-tier competitions will help them grow stronger and more confident. Competing against Africa’s best will prepare them to face global opponents. Most elite players began early, and we want our talents to follow that path.
With guidance from experienced coaches like Segun Toriola and Dotun Omoniyi, we’re optimistic they’ll gain valuable experience and deliver strong performances,” he said.
Top-performing teams in both the men’s and women’s categories will earn qualification for London 2026, the sport’s most prestigious stage.
In the men’s division, Nigeria and Egypt lead a competitive field that includes Tunisia, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, DR Congo, and Morocco.
The women’s competition will feature Egypt, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Madagascar, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Algeria, and host nation Tunisia.
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