After two days of preliminary matches at the 5th Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial National Table Tennis Championships, the tournament progresses to the knockout stage on Wednesday, April 30.
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All group matches concluded on Tuesday, April 29, at the Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial Hall in Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State.
Attention now shifts to the knockout rounds, where seeded players will compete for glory in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events.
Day 3 of the competition kicks off with the mixed doubles final, followed by the men’s and women’s doubles finals, all scheduled for Wednesday, April 30.
Later in the day, the singles events begin, with top seeds in the Men’s and Women’s Singles striving to reach the pinnacle of the tournament and claim a share of the N11.5m prize purse.
Tournament referee John Peters highlighted the impressive turnout of players this year, particularly noting the emergence of new talent in the cadet division.
Ezekiel Olatunji from Oyo State dazzled in the Boys’ U-15 category, leaving a lasting impression despite exiting in the last 32.
“I am particularly thrilled with the display by this youngster from Oyo. He showed a good understanding of the sport and a unique style of play.”
” Such players are rare, and they need encouragement for future events. Other youngsters also showcased their talents, potentially identifying future stars for national tournaments. The sponsor deserves commendation for the high standards this year, including excellent facilities and boarding for participants.”
The new hall accommodated eight tables comfortably, and the accommodation and feeding of players were top-notch. There is improvement every year, reflecting the sponsors’ commitment to raising the bar for national tournaments,” Peters added.
The five-day tournament is sanctioned by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and organized by the Osun State Table Tennis Association.
Participants from various states, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Taraba, Nasarawa, Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Kogi, Ekiti, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, and the host state, Osun, are competing.
Clubs such as Aruna Sports Club, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Police Force are also in contention for top honors.
