The 5th Michael and Felicia Alabi Memorial National Table Tennis Championships concluded in Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State, with new champions emerging in both men’s and women’s singles events.
Hope Udoaka from Cross River State claimed victory in the Women’s Singles, while Kwara State’s Abdulbasit Abdulfatai won the Men’s Singles title.
The road to the final was filled with unexpected twists as defending champions were knocked out in the quarterfinals, clearing the way for new winners.
Abdulfatai delivered an impressive performance in the final, defeating giant-killer Matthew Fabunmi with a 4-0 victory (12-10, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7) to secure the Men’s Singles trophy.
Meanwhile, Udoaka dominated the Women’s Singles final, beating veteran player Halima Hussain of Oyo 4-1 (11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7) to claim the championship title.
Emerging Stars in U-15 Category
The Under-15 categories also showcased rising talent. Ifeoluwa Ajasa from Lagos triumphed over Deborah Faleye of Edo with a 3-1 win (11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7) to claim the girls’ title.
For the boys’ division, Marvelous Joseph from Kogi defeated Umar Ayoola of Osun 3-1 (11-9, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8), securing the championship medal.
Tournament referee John Peter praised this year’s event for its unique blend of sports and entertainment.
“The 5th edition of the Michael and Felicia Alabi Table Tennis Festival combined play and fun, with daily performances keeping the atmosphere lively,” he said.
He also noted the increasing competition level, stating, “The standard of play kept rising from stage to stage, leading to the elimination of the defending champions in both singles events at the quarterfinals.”
High-Powered Attendance and Prizes
The championship, offering a total prize money of ₦11.5 million, was sanctioned by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and organized by the Osun State Table Tennis Association.
The grand finale attracted notable dignitaries, including Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Adewale Egbedun, and Otan Ayegbaju’s royal father, HRM Ọba Adesola Ojo Fadipe.
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