Wale Jagun
It was a final that lived up to its expectations as Omodara Blessings, 17 year-old, emerged the new table tennis champion in Ikorodu, after beating the national and divisional champion, Kuti Mathew, 12 year-old, in three sets.
He was presented with N50, 000 prize money, gold medal and other prizes by Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, the Chairman of Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), while Mathew got N30, 000.
Master Blessing, a student of United High School, Ikorodu, beat Mathew, a national cadet and mini – cadet champion and a student of Ayangbure Junior High School, lkorodu, in the final of the Table Tennis game of the maiden edition of the IKODASS U-17 Indoor Games Youth Championship held at the main auditorium of the Ikorodu Town hall, on Thursday, September 9, 2021.
In the five sets played at the final, Blessing won three while Mathew won two: 12 – 14, 9 -11, 11 – 6, 12 – 10, 9 -11.
In the final game of the female category, Imole –Ayo Ajasa, a 15 year-old former student of United Senior High School, Ikorodu, continued her dominance of table tennis in Ikorodu by beating Musbau Faisat in three sets and lost one – 11 – 9, 13 – 11, 8 – 11, 11 – 4.
The sum of N50, 000 and N30, 000, respectively were also presented to the female champion and her opponent by Mrs Jadesola Olabisi Otubajo, an Ambassador of IKODASS and the Chief Executive Officer, Otjore Ventures, alongside medals and other gift items.
Mr Oladipupo Adeniyi, an official of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Mr Victor Isaac, a table tennis coach and Mr Adenuga Wasiu officiated the finals watched by participants in all the games of the championship, parents and many other guests.
Osagie Ebenezer and Akpajaro Clement emerged joint third in the table tennis game while Ajasa Ifeoluwa and Abike Ajose were also joint second runners-up in the female category and they shared the N20, 000 prize money for the position.
Other guests at the finals were Alhaji Kola Akinsanya, President, Grassroots Sports Development Forum, Mrs Mojisola Adunni Olugbemi, Chairman, Association of Primary School Head Teachers, Ikorodu, and IKODASS executives.
Meanwhile, Mr Rotimi Erogbogbo, Chairman, Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), speaking at the game, said that the socio – cultural and development group is all about changing the negative narratives in Ikorodu to positive ones.
According to him, the championship was organized to develop youths and produce champions that can compete at the state, national and international levels.
“The central theme of our administration is to change the narratives in Ikorodu and youths are our focus in achieving that. That is why we have focused on developmental programmes for them”, he said.
“This game was organized to help youths develop and compete at national and international levels. We want to assist youths that are not yet corrupt in their developments.
“We believe that Ikorodu has abundant talents that can be exported.
“This is our way of raising the next generation of future leaders in sports and make them have better lives”, he said.
He said that the second edition of the games will come up in four months time and it would be better organized.
“The next game is coming up in December. We are in a hurry to develop them by engaging them more in competitive games”, he revealed.
“The next edition of the game will be better planned and organized but we need corporate sponsors to support and help us in developing youths through sports.
Erogbogbo thanked parents and coaches for raising and supporting participants in their chosen careers in sports.
Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the games, Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, commended the quality displayed by participants in all the four games.
He also thanked officials that provided technical inputs that made the games to be in tune with national and global standards.
He also thanked some individuals and groups that supported IKODASS in hosting a successful championship. Among these are Ms. Bisola Olusanya, Commissioner for Agriculture, Lagos State, Dr Frederick Oladeinde, Commissioner for Transportation, Alhaji Olawale Amusa, Chief Executive Officer, HOMAT Group of Schools, Mrs Jadesola Otubanjo, IKODASS Ambassador and Chief Executive Officer, Otjiore Ventures, Pepc Foundation, Onward Movement of Nigeria, Ikorodu Town hall management, Alhaji Kola Akinsanya, Mayor Deen Sanwoola, New House (NH) Hotel, RHODAS Youth Centre and EROZ Place.
