Lagos witnessed a thrilling display of youthful table tennis prowess as the Third Daniel Ford Elite Table Tennis Tournament concluded at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium. The event saw Matthew Kuti and Sukurat Aiyelabegan emerge victorious in the Under-19 boys' and girls' categories, respectively, marking a triumphant return to the top after losing their crowns in 2024.
Sweet Revenge for Champions
The finals were not just about winning but about redemption. Both Kuti and Aiyelabegan had surrendered their titles last year to Abdulbasit Abdulfatai and Kabirat Ayoola. This year, they turned the tables in dominant fashion. Matthew Kuti delivered a flawless performance throughout the competition, culminating in a decisive 4-0 victory over Muiz Adegoke in the boys' final. This win marks his second U-19 title in the last three editions of the tournament.
In a parallel story of dominance, Sukurat Aiyelabegan overpowered Khadijat Okanlawon with a clean 4-0 sweep to reclaim the girls' U-19 crown. Like Kuti, this victory represents her second championship win in three years, solidifying their status as top talents in Nigerian junior table tennis.
High-Profile Attendance and Grassroots Focus
The colourful and well-attended finals attracted significant dignitaries, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NDC). Governor Sanwo-Olu, serving as the special guest, commended the tournament sponsor, Yemi Edun, for his consistent investment in discovering grassroots talent.
"We must commend Mr Yemi Edun for keeping faith with the tournament over the past three years. This is what we lack in grassroots sports development," the Governor stated. He also urged the young athletes to embrace discipline, hard work, and to strictly avoid doping, emphasizing virtues crucial for long-term success.
Other Category Winners and Future Promise
Success stories were spread across various age groups at the tournament:
- Chinenye Okafor from Abia State retained the girls' U-15 title and was named the Most Valuable Player (female).
- Habeeb Adebayo clinched the boys' MVP award alongside the U-12 boys' title.
- Elizabeth Emelike, also of Abia State, emerged champion in the girls' U-12 singles.
- In the boys' U-15 category, Joseph Marvellous from Kogi State defeated Lagos's Umar Ayoola 3-0 to claim the title.
The tournament sponsor, Yemi Edun, visibly thrilled by the high standard of play, reaffirmed his commitment to staging the event annually. He promised continuous improvements to the tournament's quality, expressing hope that it would unearth more talents to represent Nigeria on the global stage. The event also received praise for the commitment of Wahid Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa).
