The 2025 Valuejet Lagos Regional Para Table Tennis Championships kicked off spectacularly at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, with Paralympic medalists lighting up the competition.
Among the standout athletes are Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Olufemi Alabi and Tajudeen Agunbiade, as well as Paris 2024 bronze medallist Isau Ogunkunle. Their presence has intensified the battle for podium finishes, with top seeds asserting dominance in their respective singles events.
A total of 98 athletes—57 men and 41 women—from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo are competing in the singles events. Notable performances have come from Alabi, Agunbiade, Ogunkunle, and Commonwealth Games medallists Kate Oputa and Faith Obazuaye, who have showcased their class against emerging talents across various classifications.
Several singles events have already reached the finals, scheduled for Friday, July 11. Meanwhile, the doubles events will take centre stage on Thursday, July 10.
Two-time Paralympian Faith Obiora, speaking at the pre-tournament press briefing, praised the competition as a vital platform for skill development and talent discovery. “This tournament has been instrumental since its inception seven years ago. Even when international competitions were scarce, it provided us with the opportunity to stay sharp and compete at a high level. Its impact on our careers is immeasurable, and we hope it continues to nurture new talent for Nigeria,” Obiora said.
President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, commended the tournament’s consistency, calling it one of Africa’s most enduring para-sport events.
“We must applaud the Sunday Odebode Foundation for its unwavering commitment to promoting para sports. Organizing able-bodied sports in Nigeria is already challenging—doing so for para sports is even more so. Yet, they’ve persisted, and with Valuejet’s support for the seventh edition, we’re seeing the results,” Oshodi stated.
He added, “Our athletes are constantly training and have performed well at the National Sports Festival, but competing against international opponents truly brings out their best. Isau Ogunkunle’s bronze at the Paralympics—the only medal Nigeria won—deserves more recognition. He credits the support of Sunday Odebode and his foundation, and we hope this tournament marks the beginning of another successful Paralympic journey.”
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