Oshonaike’s Cadet/ Junior Top 16 tourney serves off with 28 players

The maiden Funke Oshonaike Cadet/ Junior Top 16 Table Tennis Tournament served off yesterday at the Knock-up Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos with 28 players.

The competition, which has 18 males and 10 females, is the second phase of Funke Oshaonaike-sponsored Table Tennis Clinic/Tournament for Cadet and Junior players.

The first phase of the clinic began on Monday and ended on Wednesday, while the tournament will end March 4.

The males are Augustine Emmanuel, Ibrahim Asunmo, Temidayo Ajayi, Babafemi Babatunde, Ololade Oyenekan, Akeem Muiz, Bolaji Oyekola, Michael Obayomi and Abayomi Animashaun.

Others are Muiz Adegoke, Wariz Kagbafolorun, Taiwo Matti, Idrisu Zachari, Ibrahim Umar, Mustapha Mustapha, Azeez Solanke, Ahmeed Osibanjo and Mustapha Musa.

The females are Sadia Akeem, Zanaib Surmer, Nimota Aregbesola, Sukurat Aiyelabegan, Ifeoluwa Omotosho, Agnes Onoja, Iyanuoluwa Falana, Rofiat Jimoh, Kehinde Oyeniyi, Alimat Ayinla.

Africa’s female most decorated table tennis player, Oshonaike, said the essence of the competition was to evaluate the players.

Oshonaike said that they had undergone a clinic for four days and it was pivotal to put them to test.

“I want to see how much they have learnt because during the clinic they exhibited so much skills and I want to see them maximize the skills gained.

“I also want to see champions identified at the end of this competition,’’ the six-time Olympian said.

She said that she was considering making it an annual event.

Oshaonaike provided the participants with the kits for their training.

Also, John Peters, the Tournament Referee, commended Oshonaike for a show appreciation to her roots.

Peters said that it was a good gesture giving back to where she started.

“It’s a great privilege giving back to the society that made her, only a few remember their humble beginning,” he said. (NAN)