Defending champions Jamiu Ayanwale and Sukurat Aiyelabegan are set to begin their title defence at the fifth edition of the National Table Tennis Championships commences today (Monday) in Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Ayanwale represents Rivers State and was the standout performer at the 2024 edition where he captured the men’s singles title after sealing victory over Oyo State’s Wasiu Azeez in the last final. His commanding displays singled him out as a player to watch, and he will once again be the man to beat this year.
In the women’s singles, Kwara’s Aiyelabegan stunned the field last year with an impressive performace, which includes a commanding 4–0 win over Lagos State’s top seed Bose Odusanya in the final. She will be facing familiar competition in Osun, with Odusanya, Aminat Fashola, and Bisola Asaju all vying for the crown.
The men’s singles also promises fierce competition, with Ayanwale expected to face serious challenges from Omah Amadi, Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, and Akinwale Fagbamila among others.
PUNCH Sports Extra previously reported that over 50 teams from across Nigeria, including representatives from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Taraba, Nasarawa, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Kogi, Ekiti, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, and host state Osun, will compete in the five-day championship. Clubs such as Aruna Sports Club, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Police Force are also represented.
All matches will take place at the newly built Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Table Tennis Hall, with a total prize pool of N11.5m on offer.
The tournament, running from April 28 to May 2, will feature a packed schedule including men’s singles, women’s singles, U-15 boys’ and girls’ singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, veteran singles, para men’s singles open, para women’s singles open, deaf men’s singles, deaf women’s singles, and local singles events.
