It was a thrilling conclusion to the three-day Second Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships, as unseeded Oyo State stunned favorites to claim the top prize at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Led by Wasiu Azeez and Halima Hussein, Oyo State defied all odds to defeat fellow underdogs Bayelsa State in the final, after outplaying top-seeded sides including Lagos, Edo, and Kwara.
Oyo took an early lead in the mixed doubles before Bayelsa’s Hope Udoaka leveled the score. Azeez then produced a dramatic comeback to beat Samuel Boboye 3-1, while Hussein and Khadijat Okanlawon sealed the win with a 3-1 victory in the women’s doubles.
In the third-place match, Kwara State overpowered Lagos Team 2 3-0 to claim bronze at the ₦5.5 million prize-money event.
Sponsor and tournament financier Senator Tokunbo Abiru commended the players for their performance and reaffirmed his commitment to developing the championship further.
“This tournament has shown that when we create the right environment for our youth, talent flourishes, friendships blossom, and excellence thrives,” Abiru said.
He also announced plans for a bigger and more inclusive edition in 2026, aiming to make the championship a premier table tennis event in Africa.
