Nigeria emerges as the dominant force at the 2023 ITTF Lagos Para Open
Team Nigeria secured victory in all available categories at the Valuejet ITTF Lagos Para Open, which concluded over the weekend at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
The three-day competition featured teams from various countries, including India, Uganda, Benin Republic, South Africa, and Togo. The Valuejet Para Lagos Open, classified as an ITTF Factor 20 World Ranking event, provided Nigerian players with a valuable opportunity to enhance their skills by competing against some of the world's finest para table tennis athletes.
The majority of Nigerian athletes, who are set to compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympics, showcased their dominance in their respective events. Notably, Bolawa Akingbemisilu emerged as the most successful athlete at the Lagos Para Open. Akingbemisilu, the African champion in class five, clinched victories in the singles competition and partnered with Egbinola Oluade to secure gold in the men's doubles class 4-8. In addition, Chinenye Obiora claimed the top prize in the mixed doubles class 10.
Oluade, displaying his prowess, also triumphed in the men's singles class 1-3 category. The event saw other remarkable victories, including Abiola Adesope and Aishat Raji winning the mixed doubles class 20 gold, while Temitope Idris and Precious Okafor combined forces to claim the women's doubles class 14-20 title.
Idris, in another dynamic partnership with Tajudeen Agunbiade, secured the mixed doubles class 14-17 crown. In the fiercely contested men's singles, various athletes claimed their respective class titles, with Isau Ogunkule victorious in class 4, Kayode Alabi prevailing in class 6, Victor Farinloye emerging as the champion in class 8, and Alabi Olufemi succeeding in class 10. Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi secured the women's singles title in the class 4-5 category.
Further adding to Nigeria's domination in the competition, champions in other categories included Nosimot Ganiu (class 1-3), Kafayat Olaitan (class 6-8), and Maryam Popoola (class 9-10). To complete the remarkable performance, Agunbiade and Francis Chukwuemeka joined forces to secure the gold medal in the men's doubles class 14-18.
Leave A Comment