Winner of 2024 Baale table tennis tourney to get scholarship award – Baale Oluranti Ilori
Photo: Wife of the Baale, Olori comfort Atinuke Ilori addressing participants at the tournament.
By Ifeanyi Eduzor
Sponsor of the annual Baale Table Tennis Championship Baale Oluranti Ademola Ilori has promised to give scholarship award to the winner of the next edition of the championship to enable the person study in any country of his choice even as he stated that the tournament since inception apart from producing worthy champions has enabled the participants gain adequate exposure that prepares then for major competitions both nationally and internationally.
He stated this during the finals of the tournament held recently in his domain in Ogun State
Going down memory lane on how the ping pong game came into existence, he explained that it was in England in the late 19th century, that table tennis made its appearance taking inspiration from lawn tennis, According to him, the first players belonged to middle-class Victorian society. The first game would have been played using a champagne cork as a ball, cigar boxes as bats and books for the net.
On the development of the game in Nigeria he stated that way back in 1951, the Nigeria Table Tennis Association was formed, headed by an Englishman; Jack Farnsworth. The first national competition was held in the same year, and the champion was Alaba Vaughan.
Table tennis was a popular participation sport all over Lagos Island and Mainland and currently nationally.
It would be noted that Ibakan Oke as a community has successfully hosted five editions of the January 1st annual Baale Table Tennis championship since 2019 till date.
The progenitor of the annual Baale Table Tennis Championship, Baale Ademola Ilori the sponsor of the annual championship which is a grassroots sport gathering avenue to promote community development, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among the communities of Idofe, Iganran, Falafounmu, Ibakan Oke ,Isale, Odosapo Jenloye , Toloye, Imope, Aparaki, Odoalamo, Ipari Oke, Okeyejo, Ilaporu, Ipari Isale, Oru, Oke-Olowu, Oke-Eri, Idona, Ijebu-Igbo and Awa as players and participants flock to Ibakan for the table tennis championship annually.
January 2023 edition came up on the 1st of January as usual and the event was a huge success. The Atunluse 1 of Ibakan Kingdom in Ijebuland in Ogun State who was ably represented by his vice, Chief Engr. Dele Bamiro, (Omi o lota) the Ekeji Ilu of Ibakan Kingdom was full of appreciation to the participants. He emphasized that the tournament organised yearly has physical and mental benefits to players.
“The game engages your mind and demands quick strategies and decisions to win. It trains your mind to focus and make quick decisions based on your opponent’s actions. Not only does the sport help us stay fit and healthy, it also helps develop individual sporting talents and also helps bring people from the local communities together.’’
According to the Chairman of the organising committee, Olusesan Olukoya, the purpose of the championship has been met to an extent since inception as 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.
At the 5th edition of the championship held at Ibakan Oke on Sunday 1st January, 2023, the first, second and third winners were presented with cash, medals, Branded T-shirts, and trophy as well as other valuable prizes. It was during the presentation of medals and cash awards that the Chairman of the organising committee of the Baale Table Tennis championship informed the participants about the promise made by Baale Oluranti that the winner of the 2024 edition scheduled to hold in a year time would have a huge benefit of traveling to any country of his choice on scholarship.
Meanwhile Oluwasegun Ilori from Ibakan Oke won the first position while Dare Adelaja from Ibakan Isale was second with Daniel Ilori of Ibakan Oke coming third.
