In a dramatic turn of events, the Oyo State Team rose from underdog status to claim the championship at the 2nd Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships, held at the Molade Okoya‑Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos this past weekend.
Competing against 30 teams from Nigeria, the Benin Republic and Togo, Oyo out-played several top-seeded contingents including Lagos, Edo and Kwara to lift the trophy.
Key moments included outstanding performances by young paddlers Wasiu Azeez and Halima Hussain. Azeez recovered from a one-set deficit to beat Samuel Boboye 3-1 in one of the men’s singles finals, while Hussain, teaming up with Khadijat Okanlawon, claimed the women’s doubles in a smart 3-1 win.
In his remarks, the tournament sponsor, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, praised the athletes for their skill and sportsmanship, and reiterated his commitment to using the competition to empower youth and stem the growth of grassroots talent.
