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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Sports

Five-year-old Omotoso makes national table tennis debut at U-15 tourney

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Five-year-old Ayomide Omotoso made his national debut at the Adegboyega Efunkoya U-15 National Table Tennis Tournament in Lagos, becoming the youngest competitor.
  • Omotoso, son of the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, competed against older players and, despite losing his matches, expressed determination to improve.
  • The tournament, honoring the late Adegboyega Efunkoya, attracted over 130 players and aims to discover young talent while promoting the combination of sports and education.

Five-year-old Ayomide Omotoso has become the youngest competitor in the history of the Adegboyega Efunkoya U-15 National Table Tennis Tournament, making his national debut in Lagos. The prodigious talent, son of Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, competed against players significantly older than himself at the National Stadium.

Despite losing all his matches, Ayomide remained enthusiastic about the experience. "I am very happy playing because I love table tennis. My dad taught me the game. My opponents are far better than me, but I hope to keep training so I can play better next time," he said, showcasing a mature outlook for his age.

I am very happy playing because I love table tennis. My dad taught me the game. My opponents are far better than me, but I hope to keep training so I can play better next time.

— Ayomide OmotosoSpeaking after his national debut at the tournament.

The three-day tournament, organized by the Efunkoya Sports Foundation in collaboration with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, features over 130 participants, including 82 boys and 54 girls. The event serves to honor the legacy of the late Adegboyega Efunkoya, a former president of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation and a strong advocate for integrating sports with education.

Segun Adegboyega, son of the late administrator, expressed pride in the tournament's role in preserving his father's vision. "I am so proud and satisfied with what I see today. My father was a passionate table tennis administrator who insisted that players must combine sports with education. With tournaments like this, we can discover talents who will not only make Nigeria proud but also grow into useful individuals in society," he remarked.

I am so proud and satisfied with what I see today. My father was a passionate table tennis administrator who insisted that players must combine sports with education. With tournaments like this, we can discover talents who will not only make Nigeria proud but also grow into useful individuals in society.

— Segun AdegboyegaOn the importance of the tournament in honoring his father's legacy and discovering talent.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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