By Wale Joseph
Southpaw Seun Ajetunmobi, has continued to maintain the lead in the men’s cadre of the Spring Fresh Table-Tennis league, after the third round, when he defeated Gbenga Anthony 3-1 in the final
National junior champion, Ganiat Olatunde, was also at her best in the third round of the table tennis League, as she defeated the duo of Ganiat Ogundele and Olaide Atinuke in the semi-final and final of the championship respectively.
The match, which was played at the Indoor Sports Hall of Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, saw the unassuming and composed Olatunde outclassing Atinuke in the semi-final with a 3-2 win, while she came from two sets down to overcome Ogundele in the final.
In what appeared to be someone matching her words with action, Olatunde, who had earlier in the competition vowed that she feared no foe, declared that she wants to displace Atinuke after she caused an upset in the first round of the championship with a 3-0 bashing of Ogundele.
“I am confident that after beating Ogundele, whom I respect a lot, the only person who might prove difficult was Atinuke because her game was very difficult to understand,” said Olatunde, one of the country’s medal winners at the last African Junior Championship (AJC), held in Egypt.
After beating her archrival in the last four, a determined Olatunde said that her dream of occupying the top spot in the state is now guaranteed. Over 120 players across the state participated in the competition.
In the men’s second division, Ahmed Bello beat Azeez Ogunlade 3-1, while Mufuli Muraina defeated Bose Odusanya 3-2 to win the women’s event final. The fourth round holds today
Currently, the tournament has continued to spring surprises as upcoming players are now overthrowing some of the top players, with Olatunde creating the biggest upset in the championship.
Sponsor of the tourney, Tunde Disu, has assured that he will continue to support the state government’s drive at empowering youths through sports. Disu, who is the Managing Director of Lagbus Asset Management, is optimistic that some of the players will take over from the likes of Segun Toriola, Bose Kaffo and a host of others in a few years to come.
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