Ikoyi Club restates commitment to sports development as curtain falls on BlueChip table tennis championship
Chairman of Ikoyi Club 1938, Tafa Zibiri- Aliu has assured that the various sections of the iconic club will continue to contribute their quota towards sports development in the country just as he stated that the club will not relent in it’s efforts at encouraging it’s members to participate actively in one sporting activity or the other as it helps them keep fit, burn out calories and avoid such sicknesses as obesity.
He stated this during the closing ceremony of the just concluded 4th edition of the annual Bluechip Table Tennis tournament which was held Friday at the table tennis section of the club.
According to him, sports plays an important role in cementing unity in the country and as such we shall continue to ensure it’s development at the grassroots and amongst members.
” There’s no denying the fact that sports plays a big role in cementing unity in the country. It allows people to exercise their bodies, network and make new friends and that’s why Ikoyi Club as the leading social cultural recreational Club in the country will continue to support sports development especially at the grassroots which has given our club an edge over similar clubs”, he stressed.
He was full of appreciation to the sponsor of the tournament for keeping the championship going for the past four years and for the Chairman of the section, Dare Olude for a seamless competition just as he expressed happiness with the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by the players.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of BlueChip Technologies, sponsor of the tournament, Kazeem Tewogbade explained that his company decided to bankroll the tournament inorder to give members of the club opportunity to express themselves in the ping pong game in a relaxed environment noting that he’s happy with the successes recorded.
Tewogbade, promised that next edition will be more glamorous even as he assured that the company will continue it’s sponsorship of the tournament.
Meanwhile in the men singles finals, Gbenga Fetuga defeated Ivy Ikokwu by 4-0 of 11-0, 11-8, 11-8 and 14-12 to emerge winner while in the women singles finals, Lolo Idu Okeahialam defeated A. Azeez by 3-1 of 11-7, 11-6, 10-12 and 11-7 to emerge winner.
Also in the men’s doubles event, the pair of Oki and Okafor beat Diya and Sofinieari by 3-2 of 11-3, 8-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5 to take the title while in the Ladies Premiership, Tewogbade beat her opponent Iwhihwu 3-1 of 11-7, 11-6, 10-12 and 11-7 just as Ola Azeez recorded another 3-1 victory of 8-11, 12-10, 11-10 and 11-9 to win the Septua Veteran ( Above 70+) category
Speaking on their victories, the men singles winner, Gbenga Fetuga and her women counterpart Lolo Idu Okeahialam expressed happiness with their victories which they attributed to hard work and resilience.
Both of them pledged that they’ll be ready to defend their titles in the next edition even as they commended the table tennis section executives and the sponsor for a job well done.
Trophies and various prizes were given out to the winners.