Odebode Unveils Plans For 2025 Para Table Tennis Championship

The President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN), Sunday Odebode, highlighted the objectives of the 2025 Regional Para Table Tennis Championship.

Nigeria will slug it out with the likes of Ghana, Benin Republic, and Togo for the seventh edition of the Regional Para Table Tennis Championship at the Molade Okoya Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The tournament is set to feature top players across the region, and it is expected to serve as qualifiers for the maiden West African Paralympic Games in September.

Odebode said the decision to make the 2025 a regional tournament is to help develop the sport in West Africa.

He said: “We are so excited that the tournament continues to take a new direction every year and for us, we feel it is important to grow the sport in the region, which is dominated by Nigeria.

“Making it a regional event this year is aimed at helping our neighbouring countries to grow the sport and we are expecting teams from Ghana, Togo, and the Benin Republic. This is another opportunity for the players to also showcase themselves through this kind of tournament.”

He also confirmed that the championship will feature over 33 events in the men’s and women’s categories, including doubles and mixed doubles.

Similarly, The Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the hosting of the tournament has further established Lagos as the hub of table tennis in Africa.

He said: “We wish all the participants the best of luck as we look forward to an exciting event this year.”

Paralympic bronze medalist, Isau Ogunkunle is looking forward to the emergence of new players in the tournament.

He said: “My career today would not have been possible without this tournament and I must admit that it was through this competition that I was discovered to actualise my dream which I am yet to achieve despite the bronze medal in Paris. I am looking forward to seeing new players coming through this year’s edition.”

The tournament will kick off from July 9 to 11 at the Molade Okoya Thomas Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun.

Iraq’s Hadeel Al Waeli and Ali Al Saedi both claimed gold medals in the Women’s and Men’s Class 1-2 categories in the 2024 edition of the tournament.

Nigeria’s Faith Obazuaye retained her title in the Women’s Class 9-10 by defeating her compatriot Maryam Popoola 3-0 in the final last year.

Odebode Unveils Plans For 2025 Para Table Tennis Championship is first published on The Whistler Newspaper