Lagos Table Tennis Trials Start for Eko 2026 Games

The Lagos State Table Tennis Association has kicked off trials to pick athletes for the first National Intermediate Games, Eko 2026.

This one-day event will happen at Ikoyi Club 1938 on Saturday, August 29. This sets the stage for what looks like an exciting competition.

LSTTA Chairman Tunji Lawal spoke about the trials. He said it is important for keeping Lagos at the top of table tennis. The aim is to make sure that only the best athletes get to represent the state.

“We want to ensure that we assemble a strong team that can battle against any team in the country,” Lawal said.

He added that the trials will keep going until the final team is chosen. Training will also happen at the same time.

“No player should feel indispensable. Only the best will earn the right to represent Lagos. Lagos is known for excellence, and we cannot go below this standard in our approach to the first National Intermediate Games,” he said.

A total of 14 athletes will take part in the trials. This includes seven boys and seven girls. The girls’ team has Aishat Rabiu, Ifeoluwa Ajasa, Faisat Musbau, Rianat Olanrewaju, Taiwo Akanbi, Halimat Rasheed, and Hayisat Zakariah.

The boys’ team includes African U-19 champion Matthew Kuti, Quadri Atunwon, Tobi Adebakin, Usman Ayoola, Ahmed Ayatulahi, Adeoye Hussein, and Adesanya Sodiq.

Each athlete shows not just personal goals but also Lagos’ dream to stay on top in Nigerian table tennis.

Eko 2026 is set to run from October 1 to 15. It will gather over 15,000 of Nigeria’s best athletes aged 15 to 18.

This competition is the country’s main intermediate multi-sport event. It aims to help bridge the gap between amateur and elite sports. It offers a chance for young talent to compete at the national level and prepare for success in bigger competitions.

The LSTTA is dedicated to making sure Lagos not only takes part but also shines, setting high standards at Eko 2026.

In another development, a monthly cadet tournament by LSTTA at Lagos Country Club showed the strong talent in the state. Umar Ayoola and Aminat Lawal won the boys’ and girls’ categories, highlighting the depth of young players in Lagos.