<em><strong>Isau Ogunkunle, one of the shinning stars of the just concluded seventh ValueJet Lagos Para Table Tennis Championships in Lagos, Nigeria</strong></em>
ILESANMI MOTUNRAYO OLUKEMI
Top stars like Isau Ogunkunle, Bolawa Akingbemisilu, and Faith Obiora successfully defended their singles titles at the seventh ValueJet Lagos Para Table Tennis Championships, which ended on Saturday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Besides Nigeria, athletes from Togo and the Benin Republic also participated. Togo made a notable impression, earning two bronze medals.
In the women’s singles, Faith Obiora retained her title in class five after defeating Kate Oputa, while African champion Kehinde Lawal secured the top spot in class nine.
With defending champion Faith Obazuaye absent, Ivie Edogiaweire seized the opportunity to clinch the class 10 crown.
In the men’s singles, Paris 2024 Paralympian Bolawa Akingbemisilu demonstrated his dominance in class five with a commanding 3-0 win over Lekan Abdullahi.
Isau Ogunkunle, Africa’s sole medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, thrilled spectators with a convincing 3-0 victory over Timothy Umeh to claim the men’s class four title.
Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Olufemi Alabi emerged victorious in the men’s class 10, while Abiola Adesope stunned the field with a 3-2 upset over Paralympic medallist Tajudeen Agunbiade in the men’s class nine.
Togo’s Atisso Amele added to her country’s tally with two bronze medals in the women’s singles and doubles class five categories.
Since its inception in 2019, the ValueJet-sponsored tournament has played a pivotal role in national team selection.
Chairman of ValueJet, Kunle Soname, reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to supporting para-athletes and promoting inclusivity through sport.
The event was organised by the Sunday Odebode Para Sport Foundation and supported by the National Sports Commission.
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