The winner of the male category of the first Governor Douye Diri Top-16 National Table Tennis Championship, which took place in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, is Adegoke Muiz of Lagos.
Muiz defeated favorite Matthew Kuti 4-0 to win the grand prize following two days of thrilling table tennis action.
In what could be called the battle of Lagos, Muiz defeated Kuti 11-8, 11-5, 11-6, and 11-5, while Abdulfatai Abdulbasit and Samuel Boboye of Bayelsa placed second and third, respectively.
In the female category, Ojomu Ajoke of Jenz Ice Cream Club of Abuja beat Hope Udoaka of Bayelsa 4-2 to capture the prized title.
Ajoke overcame her Bayelsa counterpart 12-10, 3-11, 8-11, 11-5, 3-11.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the tournament, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, represented by the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, said the government is proud of the contributions of Mr. Ama-ebi Stow, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association in the state.
Governor Diri noted that the championship would be an annual event that would bring the top table tennis players to Bayelsa and expressed his satisfaction that the top 16 competition was hosted in the South South for the first time.
President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Dr. Adesoji Tayo stated having narrowed the gap that once existed between it and other states like Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo State, Bayelsa is now the state to beat in table tennis.
In a related development, Mr. Stow stated that Nigeria was due for a table tennis league in order for the players to be kept engaged at all times.
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