Mubarak Balogun and Fatimoh Ahmed claimed the top singles honours at the seventh Adegboyega Efunkoya National Under-15 Table Tennis Championships in Lagos.
Key takeaways
- More than 130 young players from across Nigeria took part, including five-year-old Ayomide Omotoso.
- Fatimoh Ahmed also won the girls’ doubles with Emmanuella Shaibu.
- Kehinde Olamilekan and Kehinde Oluwasemilore prevailed in the boys’ doubles.
- Emmanuel Adebiyi and Deborah Fayele captured the mixed doubles championship.
- Balogun and Ahmed each received a ₦100,000 education scholarship after being selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Players.
Singles champions crowned in Lagos
Balogun secured the boys’ singles trophy by beating Juwon Ogunsakin, while Ahmed defeated Waliyat Afolabi in the girls’ singles final at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium.
The Adegboyega Efunkoya Sports Foundation staged the tournament in partnership with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation. Proceedings began with a two-day coaching clinic, followed by three days of competitive action involving over 130 entrants from around the country. The field included Omotoso, who was only five years old.
Ahmed adds doubles success
Ahmed completed a two-title campaign when she teamed up with Emmanuella Shaibu to win the girls’ doubles. The boys’ doubles went to Kehinde Olamilekan and Kehinde Oluwasemilore, while Adebiyi and Deborah Fayele finished as mixed doubles champions.
Ahmed and Balogun were subsequently recognised as the event’s Most Valuable Players and collected cash awards as well as ₦100,000 scholarships intended to support their education.
Ogunsakin and Joyce Owolabi received prizes for their conduct as the best-behaved players. Funmilayo Oyetayo was honoured as the leading coach, while Omotoso and Mistura Taiwo were recognised as the competition’s youngest participants.
