The 51st annual Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Championship is set to begin on Monday 25th at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
The tournament which is said to be one of the longest running sports competitions in Africa has turn out to be a breeding ground for national players and youngsters across Lagos State.
Speaking at the media conference to herald the beginning of this year’s edition which is the 51st, Ayodeji Okoya-Thomas disclosed that this year would be the fifth edition without the initiator, Late Sir Chief (Dr) Molade Okoya-Thomas, who passed on after the 46th edition in 2014.
“This of course will be the fifth, after 46 years that is not being addressed by the initiator and sole sponsor of the tournament, Sir Chief (Dr.) Molade Okoya-Thomas. One of his greatest wishes while alive was that the family should continue the sponsorship of the tournament after his demise. We would therefore like to give thanks to God for giving us the enablement to continue this noble legacy for the fourth year running since he was called to glory,” he said.
For this year, 24 titles will be at stake in three categories – cadet, junior and senior: “In line with the tradition of the championship, there will be cash and material prizes for the most valuable players in both male and female events.”