The 6th Lagos Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open is set to begin on Thursday, November 7, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. The prestigious tournament features international participants from the United Kingdom, Cameroon, Iran, Iraq, Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and host Nigeria.
At a press conference held on Wednesday, Sunday Odebode, President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN), expressed his excitement over the tournament’s growth, highlighting an impressive registration and participation from athletes worldwide. Odebode emphasized the significance of the event as it continues to attract global attention.
Pablo Perez, ITTF Para Manager, praised Nigeria’s increasing influence in para table tennis, with Nigerian players, particularly Isau Ogunkunle, earning accolades in international competitions such as the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Over 30 players have received certification to begin their professional careers, according to tournament referee Asko Rasinen.
Uchechi Achomadu, Marketing and Communication Manager of Valuejet, reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to supporting the event, encouraging athletes to give their best.
Isau Ogunkunle, a Paris 2024 Paralympic Games bronze medallist, also shared his journey and vowed to defend his title in the Men’s Class 5 category.
