The 43rd edition of Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championship will start on December 5 at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos, with 17 trophies to be won in the junior, intermediate and senior categories.Sponsor of the championship, Molade Okoya-Thomas, said Lagos would benefit greatly from the championship as emerging stars from the event would help the state win medals in the next National Sports Festival, in Lagos. He noted that sports decline in Nigeria was the result of the inability to develop grassroots programmes.He said, "In my days as a youth in Lagos, many of the future stars emerged from the boys and girls events held regularly. I am happy to note that Lagos State is taking a lead in the development of grassroots sports and I am told that there is now a table tennis league competition where many future champions are already emerging."Okoya-Thomas says he has great joy in being the event sponsor for more than four decades because of what the championship has achieved. "My sponsorship of the competition has no political objective. When I hear of players that have passed through the championship becoming stars, coaches and administrators, I feel motivated to do more."The sports philanthropist gave hope to additional competition, saying he has advised the organisers to consider adding the womens veteran category. While receiving the trophies from Okoya-Thomas, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Enitan Oshodi, thanked the sponsor for contributing to the growth of the sport and development of values in the Nigerian youth, adding that past winners like Babatunde Obisanya and others would forever be grateful to the initiative."As a former Lagos State Table Tennis Association chairman, I am aware of the value that Okoya-Thomas has added to the game. I am hopeful that very soon, Nigeria will rise again and reclaim its position in world table tennis. The only way to achieve that is to give the youth a chance to express themselves in competitive atmosphere," he said.
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