Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial hub, is set to come alive as the best youth table tennis stars gather for the second edition of the Daniel Ford Elite Youth Invitational Championships.

The event is scheduled from December 18 to 21 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Organized by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and funded by UK-based Daniel Ford International, this year’s edition promises to be even more exciting.

Participants will undergo a two-day clinic led by national coaches, including Dotun Omoniyi, to prepare for the tournament, which kicks-off on Friday, December 20, with qualifiers in the U-15 and U-19 categories.

Adesoji Tayo, Vice President of NTTF, highlighted the success of the inaugural edition, which inspired the sponsor to continue their support and include the clinic. “We are grateful to Daniel Ford International for their continued sponsorship, especially with the addition of the clinic to help players prepare for the main event. The clinic will update players on the latest techniques and allow them to test their skills against their peers before the tournament begins. We are excited that some participants from the first edition have made it to the national team and represented Nigeria in major tournaments like the African Championships and Games. We hope to see more talent emerge this year,” he said.

This year’s U-19 title battle will feature national team stars Matthew Kuti, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, and Muiz Adegoke.

In the U-15 division, 32 players (16 boys and 16 girls) have been invited to compete. The U-19 category promises to be thrilling, with many national team stars in action at this two-day event, which also serves as the federation’s end-of-year tournament.

For the system of play, the invited players will be drawn into four groups of 4 or 5 players, each with round-robin matches within each group. Two players from each group will qualify for the knockout stage quarterfinals.

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).