Why table tennis holds a unique place on the Lagos calendar

 • The state commits to hosting more events

The state of Lagos is known as the table tennis capital of Africa. The state, which hosts the continent's best players in various competitions every year, has become a destination for athletes, some of whom see playing in the famous Molade Okoya Thomas Hall at Teslim Stadium as reaching the holy grail.

As it has been for the past eight years, Lagos is once again the home of the African table tennis elite, who will compete on three fronts.

Yesterday Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat assured the ITTF that the state is ready to host future World Championships after successfully hosting several ITTF sanctioned tournaments over the past eight years.

During a courtesy visit by the ITTF team to his Lagos office, the Deputy Governor said the state would continue to support table tennis and assured that he was ready to welcome the world based on his experience organizing several tournaments in the past.

“We are delighted that our efforts have begun to yield positive results, with Quadri Aruna now ranked in the top 10 players in the world. In the past, the Chinese dominated the world elite. We will continue to support table tennis and we want all our visitors to enjoy the atmosphere of Lagos," said Hamzat.

The ITTF team, led by one of its vice-presidents, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, said the visit was made necessary after the ITTF has received tremendous support from the state over the past eight years.

"We are here for a thank you visit because Lagos has been a huge supporter of table tennis in Africa and we are delighted that the support is beginning to pay off now that Aruna is now in the top 10 players in the world. We hope more players like Aruna persist. Lagos has been the backbone of table tennis in Africa and we hope that support will be backed by the state,” said Oshodi.

Earlier in the weekend, ITTF Africa President Khaled El-Salhy acknowledged the importance of Lagos in the development of the African game, saying the country's commercial center was never the center of the mainland table tennis game.

Highlighting the successful organization of several ITTF-sanctioned events in the state, the Egyptians said such competitions as the ongoing African Club Championships are examples of the government's commitment to sport in the country over the past seven years, which has contributed to its outcome have world cup. Drummer.

“I have to commend the Lagos State Government for what they have done for table tennis as the city has become the center of table tennis.

"All players, inside and outside of Africa, always look forward to competing at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall, especially given the huge crowds that support the players most of the time, regardless of their teams." which cannot ignore when it comes to hosting competitions at the highest level, and for us in Africa, we still believe that the state has the capacity to host major international tournaments," El-Salty said.

The man behind Lagos' recent achievements in sport, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, who is also Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC), says the hosting of the high-profile tournament would not have been possible without the tremendous support of Lagos State. government and sponsors.

“We cannot get to where we are in the world without the support of the Lagos State Government, because what we have achieved has come true with their support. Also, our sponsors play a big role in our current situation and we hope we can continue to count on their support,” said Oshodi.

16 clubs, made up of nine men and seven women, compete in the club championships from yesterday to today, while 48 players (28 men and 20 women) compete for continental places at tomorrow's Africa Cup of Nations on May 28, according to the famous Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall at Teslim Balogun Stadium. Referral link