Nigeria, Iraq shine at ValueJet para t’tennis tourney

 Hosts Nigeria and Iraq dominated the 2024 Lagos ValueJet Para Table Tennis Open, claiming six gold medals each at the event, which ended on Saturday, November 9 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

The three-day ITTF Factor 20 tournament was organised by the Sunday Odebode Foundation in collaboration with the Para Division of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation and featured players from the United Kingdom, Iraq, Iran, Cameroon, Togo, Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria in both singles and doubles events.

Despite Nigeria’s strong performance throughout the tournament, the final day saw the visiting Iraqi team take centre stage. The highlight was Muntadher Al Sarraji’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Paris 2024 Paralympic Games bronze medallist Isau Ogunkunle in the Men’s Singles Class 3-4 final, with Al Sarraji silencing the home crowd with a 13-11 win in the deciding game.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praised the athletes for their remarkable performances and pledged continued support for the tournament and its participants.

“Our athletes continue to break boundaries, proving that physical limitations cannot constrain the boundless potential within each individual. This tournament is not only a celebration of skill and competition but also an inspiring reminder of the strength, resilience, and courage that define our athletes,” he said.

This year’s edition also showcased the remarkable skills of physically challenged athletes to the delight of the president of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode.

“We are thrilled that the tournament continues to grow by leaps and bounds. The registration this year was impressive, and we are happy to see the event attracting more players worldwide,” Odebode noted.

ITTF para manager Pablo Perez also highlighted Nigeria’s growing influence in para table tennis, which has motivated the ITTF to support the tournament as one of the sanctioned events in Africa.

“We are particularly thrilled with the growth of para-table tennis in Nigeria. The performance of Nigerian players in major international competitions is a testament to the country’s hard work. Nigeria is truly making a mark with Isau Ogunkunle being the only African medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We are proud to witness another tournament this year and commend Odebode and his team for their efforts,” Perez stated.