Kuti, Ojomu win ITTF Africa West Regional Championship, as tournament ends in Lagos
The 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championship ended on a good note Saturday with defending champion Mathew Kuti retaining his title.
Kuti who was rattled 9-11 in the first set by unseeded Abdulbasit Abdulfatai came out strongly from the second set to dominate the game winning by 4-1 of 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11,7 and 11-7 to be crowned champion for the second consecutive year.
In the women category, Ajoke Ojomu recorded a 4-0 victory of 11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 14-12 to defeat Sukurat Aiyelabegan to emerge champion.
Speaking shortly after receiving his trophy, Kuti expressed happiness that he was able to overcome stiff opposition from his opponent to emerge winner of the tournament; saying that the victory will spur him to win more laurels for the country.
He commended African Table Tennis Federation for organizing a seamless tournament which he said has helped players garner more experience in the game.
In her own remarks, the women champion said she was happy winning the title after missing it by the whiskers last year in Lome, Togo.
“I’m overwhelmed wining this title because I narrowly lost in the finals last year in Togo when I had to retire because of injury. Also my opponent is my team mate in the national team and we’ve faced each other several times with victory going either way.
Ojumo who is ranked amongst the first 200 in the world, promised her fans that the victory is the beginning of better things to come from her in the ping pong game
