All set for Ijebuland annual Baale table tennis tourney

All is now set for the successful hosting of the annual Ijebuland Baale Table Tennis Championship.

The event which holds every first of the year by 2pm at Ibakan Oke, ijebu will take place at the same venue on Wednesday, January 1, 2025

According to the sponsor of the annual tournament who also doubles as The Atunluse of Ibakan Kingdom, Ogun State, Baale Oluranti Ademola Ilori the annual tournament was instituted to unite the youths of Idofe, Iganran, Falafounmu, Ibakan Oke and Isale, Odosapo Jenloye and Toloye, Imope as well as those of Aparaki, Odoalamo, Ipari Oke, Odokalaba, Okeyejo, Ilaporu, Ipari Isale, Oru, Oke-Olowu, Oke-Eri, Idona, Ago Iwoye, Ijebu-Igbo and Awa.
He noted that as the planning committee is working hard towards ensuring a successful seventh edition, all the youths in the aforementioned communities should come out en mass to participate in the competition just as he admonished young athletes to see sports as a lucrative venture.

Giving the benefits of the ping pong game, The Atunluse noted that table tennis helps people keep fit, strengthen muscles, mobilizes the joints and most importantly sharpens reaction times and hugely improves hand-eye coordination.

“It’s a well established fact that table tennis help us to stay fit, agile and healthy, it also helps develop individual sporting talents as well as help in bringing people from the local communities to participate in healthy and friendly environment.

On the health benefits of Table Tennis, Baale Ilori stressed that: ‘’Aside from being a fun way to spend a nice time with your family members and friends in the village, table tennis also offers surprisingly great health benefits. Like most sports, table tennis offers great mind-body stimulation, aerobic exercise, and social interaction. Unlike many sports, however, the overall risk for injury with table tennis is quite low.’’
Speaking on the tournament, Chairman of the organising committee, Olusesan Olukoya assured that the seventh edition will be memorable and glamorous as plans have been put in place to ensure that all the participants and fans have a fun filled championship just as he expressed happiness that the aim.of the tournament has been achieved.
” I want to give Glory to the Almighty God who made it possible for us to be witnessing the seventh edition of this all important tournament in Ijebuland which has been running uninterrupted since the maiden edition in January 2019.
” I’m also happy that to an extent the purpose of this tournament which is to create mutual understanding and cordial relationship amongst Ijebu youths has been achieved and the youths now look forward to participating in the competition every 1st January of each new year.

“It is on record that since inception, winners have emerged from Ibakan-Isale, Ibakan-Oke, Aparaki and Odosapo; though it holds in Ibakan Oke annually courtesy of the sponsorship of Baale Oluranti Ilori’’.

He explained that the first, second, third and fourth winners would be presented with cash, medals, Branded T-shirts, and trophy as well as other valuable prizes.
Olukoya appealed to youths of Ijebuland to as usual troop out in their numbers to be part of the biggest table tournament in Ijebuland.