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Tag: Abdulbasit Abdulfatai

  • Abdulfatai, Udoaka rule  National Table Tennis Championships

    Abdulfatai, Udoaka rule  National Table Tennis Championships

    Kwara’s Abdulbasit Abdulfatai and Cross River’s Hope Udoaka emerged as champions at the 5th  Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial National Table Tennis Championships, held in the historic town of Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State.

    With the defending champions exiting in the quarterfinals, Abdulfatai had a smooth ride to the final, where he mesmerized giant-killer Matthew Fabunmi with a 4-0 victory (12-10, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7) to lift the Men’s Singles title.

    In the Women’s Singles final, Udoaka dominated the encounter, defeating veteran Halima Hussain of Oyo 4-1 (11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7) to be crowned the new champion.

    In the U-15 categories, Ifeoluwa Ajasa of Lagos triumphed over Deborah Faleye of Edo 3-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7) to win the girls’ title, while Marvellous Joseph of Kogi overcame Umar Ayoola of Osun 3-1 (11-9, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8) to become the boys’ champion.

    Tournament’s  referee John Peter described this year’s event as unique, blending table tennis with entertainment, as participants enjoyed performances by various artists each day.

    “The 5th  edition of the Michael and Felicia Alabi Table Tennis Festival was a combination of play and fun. The standard of play kept rising from stage to stage, culminating in the ousting of the defending champions in both the Men’s and Women’s Singles at the quarterfinal stage. New champions emerged in most of the 15 events, and a new dimension was added to the organization, with university students volunteering and assisting in all areas,” Peter said.

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    The grand finale of the five-day tournament was graced by the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, accompanied by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, and the royal father of Otan Ayegbaju, HRM Ọba Adesola Ojo Fadipe, among other notable personalities.

    The N11.5m prize money was sanctioned by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and organized by the Osun State Table Tennis Association.

    The event attracted players from various states, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Taraba, Nasarawa, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Kogi, Ekiti, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, and the host state, Osun. Clubs such as Aruna Sports Club, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Police Force also featured at the national ranking championships.

  • Abdulfatai, Udoaka  named top seeds for National Table Tennis Championships

    Abdulfatai, Udoaka  named top seeds for National Table Tennis Championships

    Africa’s men’s doubles champion, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, and top-ranked female player, Hope Udoaka, have emerged as the top seeds in the singles event of the 5th  Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial National Table Tennis Championships.

    This prestigious tournament is currently underway in the historic town of Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State.

    The event was officially declared open yesterday , April 28, by  the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Kola Adewusi, who participated in an exhibition match against former African champion, Saka Suraju.

    Adewusi praised the tournament’s sponsor—the Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Foundation-led by Ayodeji Alabi, for its unwavering commitment to the sport.

     “I urge all players to take this tournament as an opportunity to display their talents,” Adewusi said. “However, talent must be complemented by discipline and hard work, as there are no shortcuts to success. I also challenge our female players to step up their game and see this platform as a chance to break into the national team.”

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    He expressed appreciation to the sponsors on behalf of the people of Osun State and Governor Ademola Adeleke for sustaining the championship in a supportive and welcoming environment.

    Abdulfatai, who narrowly missed the national title to Matthew Kuti earlier this year, is determined to reclaim his spot on the national team.

    Udoaka, representing Cross River, will be aiming to unseat defending champion Sukurat Aiyelabegan of Kwara in the women’s singles.

    Other top contenders in the Men’s Singles include defending champion Jamiu Ayanwale, Edo’s Amadi Omeh, Akinwale Fagbamila from Ondo, and Azeez Waisu of Oyo.

    In the Women’s Singles, Udoaka is joined by Aiyelabegan, Lagos-based Bose Odusanya, Aminat Fashola, and Bisola Asaju of Kwara on the list of seeded players.

    Sanctioned by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and organised by the Osun State Table Tennis Association, the five-day tournament features over ₦11.5 million in prize money.

    Participants from states including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Taraba, Nasarawa, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Kogi, Ekiti, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, and the host state, Osun, are competing. Clubs such as Aruna Sports Club, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Police Force are also in contention for top honours.