Dominant performance by Oyo State has earned the team the title of the 2nd Sen. Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships after defeating Bayelsa State 3-1 in the thrilling final at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos over the weekend.
The mixed team event which remains the first to be organised in Africa witnessed an appreciable turnout at the 3-day as teams displayed captivating exchanges on the table.
Both unseeded teams showed that grit and determination did earned them their spots after getting past opponents from Lagos, Edo, Kwara, Benin Republic and Togo on their way to the final.
Led by the dynamic duo of Wasiu Azeez and Halima Hussein, Oyo took an early lead by winning the mixed doubles, but Bayelsa’s Hope Udoaka leveled the score. Azeez then delivered a spirited comeback, overturning a 1-0 deficit to defeat Samuel Boboye 3-1.
Hussein, alongside her women’s doubles partner Khadijat Okanlawon, sealed the victory by defeating Udoaka and Iyanuoluwa Falana, securing a 3-1 triumph for Oyo.
In the third-place match, Kwara bounced back from their semifinal misfortune with a dominant 3-0 win over Lagos Team 2, clinching the bronze medal at the N5.5 million prize money event.
Sponsor Senator Tokunbo Abiru, in his closing remarks, praised the athletes for their outstanding performances and reaffirmed his commitment to the championship’s growth.
“This tournament has once again shown that when we create the right environment for our youth, talent flourishes, friendships blossom, and excellence thrives. Throughout the championship, we witnessed an abundance of passion, skill, and sportsmanship. Our athletes from across Nigeria and other parts of Africa reminded us of the beauty of competition and the unity that sports can foster,” he said.
Looking ahead, Abiru promised an even more expansive edition in 2026. “We are already preparing to make the next edition bigger, better, and more inclusive. Our goal is to position the Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships as a premier sporting event in Africa—one that places Lagos East, Lagos State, and Nigeria firmly on the continental sports map.”
He concluded with a call to action: “As we close this year’s edition, let us carry forward the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and fair play. Let us continue to support and celebrate our young people, for in them lies the promise of a greater tomorrow.”
30 teams from Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togoi participated in the annual tournament.
Credit: Tayo Ogunseye
