Doubles, mixed-doubles winners emerge at 54th Okoya-Thomas table tennis tourney

Winners emerged yesterday in the doubles and mixed doubles events of the ongoing 54th edition of Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Championships taking place at the indoor sports hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. 

Day two of the annual championship witnessed breath-taking performances in the men’s doubles as Emmanuel Augustine and Muiz Adegoke defeated David Fayele and Rilwan Akanbi 3-2 to be crowned winners. 

While in the female category, Anu Anjuwon and Bose Akinsete also edged Bose Odusanya and Kehinde Oyeniyi 3-2 to claim the women’s doubles.

In the mixed doubles, Fayele and Akinsete convincingly overpowered Augustine and Oyeniyi 3-0 to win the title.

As curtains fall on the Championship today, defending champion Rilwan Akanbi will battle Muiz Adegoke while David Fayele takes on Emmanuel Augustine in the semi finals of the men’s singles. 

While in the women’s singles, seven-time champion Odusanya will slug it out against Akinsete while Anu Anjuwon will face Zainab Surmer in the semi finals. 

Winners in the semi finals encounters will proceed to the finals in both the male and female singles event to be decided later today.

One of the top umpires, John Peter, has said this year’s tournament has thrown up some surprises with teenage sensation, Matthew Kuti, making it to the quarterfinal before he was eliminated 4-2 by the more experienced Akanbi.

“I think this year’s tournament showed that more talents still abound in Lagos and I believe in years to come, they will come through the ranks to become stars for the country. 

 “I must also commend the family of Late Molade Okoya-Thomas for their steadfastness in ensuring the tournament holds this year despite the delays and we hope that next year being another milestone edition would be bigger and more exciting,” he said.