Some of the best table tennis players from across the world have arrived in Lagos for the sixth Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open, which serves off at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, today.

Top in the list of stars are players are stars from the United Kingdom, Iran, Iraq, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and host Nigeria.

Speaking while unveiling the programme for the event at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, yesterday, the initiator and President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN), Sunday Odebode, expressed his excitement over the significant growth in participation, noting that the presence of players from Europe, Asia, and Africa attests to the high rating of the competition.

“We are thrilled that the tournament has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. The registration for this year has been impressive, and we are happy to see the event attracting more players worldwide,” Odebode said.

Also speaking on the championship, ITTF Para Manager, Pablo Perez, highlighted Nigeria’s growing influence in para table tennis, which, he said, has motivated the ITTF to support the tournament as one of the sanctioned events in Africa.

“We are particularly thrilled with the growth of para table tennis in Nigeria. The performance of Nigerian players in major international competitions is a testament to the country’s hard work.

“Nigeria is truly making a mark with Isau Ogunkunle being the only African medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. We are proud to witness another tournament this year and commend Odebode and his team for their efforts,” Perez stated.

Tournament referee, Asko Rasinen, disclosed that over 30 players have been certified by classifiers, allowing them to kick-start their professional careers.

Valuejet’s Marketing and Communication Manager, Uchechi Achomadu, pledged the airline’s support while encouraging participants to give their best.

“We are proud to be part of the tournament again this year as it aligns with our commitment to community support. We have been inspired by the determination and tenacity of the athletes and see this as an opportunity to champion the true spirit of sportsmanship among the competitors. We are hoping for an exciting tournament as the battle for the podium begins,” she said.