Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State one of the centres picked by International Table-Tennis Federation (ITTF) was agog with World Table Tennis Day (WTTD) which is celebrated annually on April 6 since 2015.
The date is also marking the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
Popoola Sports Academy, the organiser of the event tagged: Ping Pong Diplomacy: Re-uniting Olabisi Onabanjo University and the host community of Ago-Iwoye said “It is the day we celebrate table tennis, as well as the universality and social inclusiveness the sport represents”.
Players from the grassroots participated in the two-day event and winners emerged in female category as Adesanya Adijat from Our Lady of Apostles Ijebu-Ode came first and Okojie Successgrace from Quite Pretty School, Ijebu-ode ended as runners-up and Lamina Abdulhameed Sure Success International School, Ijebu-Igbo won the male category with Adebanjo Adesope from Beje High School, Ijebu-Igbo securing the second spot.
The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, HRH Oba Abdul-Razaq Adenuga led other traditional rulers and chiefs from the community to witness the event while Dr. Joke Sheyin from Tai Solarin University was the chairperson. Other dignitaries include Mrs. Iyabode Rotimi, the director of sports, Ogun State Sports Council, Barr Gbenga Ogunba, President Centenary Ijebu-Ode Club and Coach Kehinde Ayelabegan, board member Nigeria Table-Tennis Federation.
The vice-chancellor Olabisi Onabanjo University, who was represented by the director of Sports of the institution, Mr. Kenny Adeyemi played a novelty table tennis match as a mark of unification between the University and the royal father of the host community Oba Adenuga.
The chairperson of the event, Dr Sheyin in her speech thanked the convener and Director of Popoola Sport Academy, Mr. Dele Popoola for promoting competencies and proficiencies in the game of table-tennis within Ogun State, saying “As envisaged by the organizer, the sporting activities will go a long way in promoting and enhancing cordiality which is already existing between the institution and the town”.
