Top Stars Renew Rivalry at 10th Elicris Table Tennis Cup

Following the recent dethronement of national champion Matthew Kuti, the battle for the top prize at the 10th Elicris Table Tennis Cup is set to be fiercely contested.

The grand finale will take place on Tuesday, December 24, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Organized by the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) and sponsored by the Babatunde Abayomi Adejobi (BAA) Foundation, this two-day tournament aims to discover new talents and empower the less privileged in society.

The recent 2nd Daniel Ford Championships saw Kuti defeated by Abdulbasit Abdufatai, signalling that more players are eyeing the coveted prize. This grand finale will provide an opportunity for senior players to compete against talented youngsters.

Kuti’s narrow 4-3 loss to Kwara State-born Abdulfatai has set the stage for an exciting finale, where the best 32 players in men’s and women’s singles will vie for the prize money.

Muiz Adegoke, who was edged out in the preliminary round of the Daniel Ford tournament, is eager to bounce back.

“I am yet to get over what happened to me last week at the Daniel Ford tournament. I am excited that we have the opportunity to play another tournament, which I hope to use to reclaim my status in the country. There is no doubt that it is going to be tougher because the quality of play continues to be high, and I hope I can come through against other top stars,” said the 2024 African Men’s doubles champion.

Babatunde Adejobi, the founder of the BAA Foundation, emphasized that the event is designed to assist the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) in identifying talents and engaging players ahead of major competitions.

LSTTA Chairman, Tunji Lawal, praised the foundation for its consistent support.

“We are thrilled that the sponsors have decided to expand the tournament and aim to make it national. This is a positive development for the sport in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole, providing more opportunities for national handlers to identify talents and keep players in shape, especially for the upcoming National Sports Festival in Ogun State. We are grateful to the sponsors and look forward to an exciting tournament this year,” Lawal added.