TABLE TENNIS

Lagos State has started yielding its reward in grassroots sports
development, as the Nimota Aregbesola-inspired team emerged as the
overall winner at the second Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga National U-17 table
tennis championship.
  The one-week tournament climaxed at the weekend with host – Lagos
clinching four gold, three silver and four bronze medals to beat Ondo to
the title.
  Also, Ondo – a state which has been trailing Lagos in virtually most
of the events, garnered two gold and two silver medals to play second
fiddle to Lagos, while Kwara settled for third with one gold and one
silver medals. Ekiti State-tutored by Olabode Ajayi has three bronze
medals, while the national team also clinched one silver and two bronze
medals.
  To ensure that Lagos scooped the top prize, Aregbesola defeated Zainab
Surmer of National Team 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 to clinch the
girls’ singles title, while Amadi Umeh of Ondo State beat his
compatriot – Sunday Akomolafe 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 12-14, 11-9, 13-11,
11-4 to win the boys’ event of the competition.
  Over 25 states across the country participated in the championship
held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
  Speaking during the final at the weekend, the sponsor of the
competition, Toyin Okenla-Ojeaga, said the tournament is part of her
contribution to sports development especially, table tennis, a sport
that brought her to limelight.
  A trained nurse cum educationist, Okenla- Ojeaga expressed excitement
at the raw talents exhibited by the players, saying it is an indication
that there's hope for the future in table tennis.
  "This tournament may have exposed the players to the national team
coaches whom I expect to be searching for younger players that will take
over from the older ones. They should be able to discover future
champions.
  "I am also interested in the academy of the young stars. We don't know
how they are fairing educationally, but if not for time constraints I
would have initiated a pre-tournament seminar to enlighten them of the
importance of combining education with sports.
  “We started the competition in Lagos with the players drawn across
the state, but this year, we want to give players from other states of
the federation the opportunity to showcase their talents, so that we can
widen the scope of the championship. I am a passionate advocate of youth
empowerment through education and sports. I believe that education and
sports are fundamental to development. This will help to fortify people
and help in achieving desired goals in life.
  "My prayer is that they excel in both areas of their endeavours, and
experience a bright future in the game," she explained.
  Asked if she wishes to bring on board other ex-internationals to
expand the sponsorship of the competition, she said: "I tell you it
takes a lot to be able to do this, it is not cheap. It is sacrifice, an
act of giving that I expect to yield the desired result.
  But for the President, NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, the competition would
complement the efforts of the federation to discover talents as well as
showcase the talents for further growth.