Team Lagos along with 16 other states across Nigeria have registered for the fifth Dr. Adegboyega Efunkoya Cadet Table Tennis Championships which will commence on Thursday, August 22 at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Lagos will be joined by Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Nasarawa, Delta, Kwara, Benue, Plateau, Abia, Anambra, Edo, Taraba, FCT Abuja, Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun, state along with 20 other clubs confirmed for this year’s tournament.
Following the conclusion of a two-day clinic on Wednesday, (today), preparations are complete for the participants’ screening.
Spokesperson for the Efunkoya Foundation, Ranti Lajide, noted that the foundation remains committed to its deal of education which has seen winners in the singles events over the past three editions receive scholarships.
“We aim to encourage players to prioritise their education, as Dr Efunkoya did, ensuring that most players attend school. This way, even if they don’t reach the top in sports, they can continue their education,” Lajide said.
At a media briefing in Lagos, a member of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, Femi Olugbile emphasised the tournament’s goal to perpetuate the ideals of the late chairman of the former Nigeria Table Tennis Association, whose leadership brought significant achievements to the sport in Nigeria.
Olugbile stated that the foundation’s efforts are intended to support the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) in discovering new talents, which the federation will then nurture to stardom. The foundation comprises former players and stakeholders dedicated to revitalising the sport.
The tournament will feature five titles: singles (boys and girls), doubles (boys and girls), and mixed doubles. The event is funded by former players and table tennis enthusiasts from both within and outside Nigeria.
Dr Efunkoya, a surgeon and medical practitioner, began his involvement in table tennis administration in 1962 and was elected chairman of the then Nigeria Table Tennis Association in 1963.
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