By Peter Omopo
Kwara State’s Abdulbasit Abdulfatai and Cross River’s Hope Udoaka stole the spotlight at the fifth National Table Tennis Championships, winning the men’s and women’s singles titles at the grand finale held in Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State.
The five-day tournament witnessed intense competition, with major upsets including the early elimination of defending champions in both senior categories. Capitalising on the open field, Abdulfatai delivered a dominant performance in the men’s final, defeating surprise contender Matthew Fabunmi in straight sets 4-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7) to clinch the top prize.
In the women’s singles final, Udoaka showcased her growing reputation with a composed 4-1 (11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7) victory over seasoned opponent Halima Hussain of Oyo State, marking her first national senior title.
The championships also provided a platform for young talent to shine in the U-15 division. Lagos’ Ifeoluwa Ajasa emerged victorious in the girls’ category, beating Edo’s Deborah Faleye 3-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7). In the boys’ final, Kogi’s Marvelous Joseph edged Osun’s Umar Ayoola 3-1 (11-9, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8) to take home the title.
The event underscored the growing competitiveness and depth of talent in Nigerian table tennis across all age groups.
