Sports
Nigeria, Iraq share spoils in Lagos para table tennis open
Hosts Nigeria and Iraq each claimed six gold medals, dominating the 2024 Lagos Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open, which concluded over the weekend at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
The ITTF Factor 20 tournament, which served off on Thursday, featured competitors from the United Kingdom, Iraq, Iran, Cameroon, Togo, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, participating in both singles and doubles events.
Despite Nigeria’s strong performance throughout the tournament, the final day saw the visiting Iraqi team take center stage.
The highlight was Muntadher Al Sarraji’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Paris 2024 Paralympic Games bronze medalist Isau Ogunkunle in the Men’s Singles Class 3-4 final, with Al Sarraji silencing the home crowd with a 13-11 win in the deciding game.
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In total, Nigeria and Iraq each secured six gold medals from the 12 events contested.
The tournament showcased the remarkable skills of physically challenged athletes, who demonstrated unwavering dedication and perseverance. The event also unearthed new talents who made their mark on the para table tennis scene.
“We are thrilled that the tournament continues to grow by leaps and bounds. The registration this year was impressive, and we are happy to see the event attracting more players worldwide,” said Sunday Odebode, President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN).
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