By Sunday Akintoye
For the second time since the Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship began 40 years ago, winners of both the Men’s and Women’s Singles, will take home brand new cars.
The juicy package for the winners in this year’s edition, which holds from 24-28 November, was announced by the sponsor, Sir Chief Molade Okoya Thomas (OFR, FCNA), at a press conference held yesterday, at the National Stadium, Surulere.
Okoya, who is also a patron of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), said he is happy to have been sponsoring the tourney in the last 40 years. He said sponsoring any sporting event, especially at the grassroots level, is the responsibility of both the government and individuals.
He pointed out that the championship had produced great table tennis players that have represented the country at international events. Some of them are coach Babatunde Obisanya, present national coach; Sunday Eboh, Bose Kaffo, Biola Odumosu, Funke Oshinaike and Atanda Musa.
“To make this year’s edition glamorous, I have prepared special packages for the winners. The star prizes are brand new saloon cars for both the winners of the Men’s Singles and Ladies’ Single,” Okoya disclosed.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, pledged the state government’s support to ensure that Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship is a success.
He said the government is ready to sponsor developmental programmes that will benefit youths in the state, adding that part of the Lagos state sports policy is to develop sports at the grassroots.
“The Lagos state government is in support of this year’s Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship. Our priority is to partner with individuals or groups, who are putting their money to develop sports in the state. So, I want to assure that we will give necessary support for the success of the tourney,” he said.
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