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ITTF CHALLENGE: Ambode Pledges Bigger Tournament In 2019

ITTF CHALLENGE: Ambode Pledges Bigger Tournament In 2019 %Post Title
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); President, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Engr. Ishaku Tikon (3rd left); Vice President, ITTF, Mr. Banji Oladapo (2nd left); member, Governing Board, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Dr. Toyin Okenla (left); Chairman, LSSC, Mr. Kweku Tandoh (2nd right) and  Director General, LSSC, Mr. Babatunde Bank-Anthony (right) during the closing ceremony of the 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Sunday, August 12, 2018.

…As Quadri Emerges First Nigerian To Win Championship

 Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Sunday, expressed excitement over the emergence of first Nigerian to win the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Seamaster Challenge, assuring that the state government would support the tournament in a bigger edition in 2019.

ITTF CHALLENGE: Ambode Pledges Bigger Tournament In 2019 %Post Title
R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; runner up of the Women’s Singles of 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, Sun Chen from China; the winner, Guo Yan from China, President, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Engr. Ishaku Tikon and Mr. Adebisi Adebutu during the closing ceremony of the 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Sunday, August 12, 2018.

Speaking to journalists after watching the finals of the tournament tagged ITTF Nigeria Open 2018 held at Molade Okoya Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere where Nigerian table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, emerged victorious, Governor Ambode said it was gratifying to note the remarkable improvement in this year’s edition of the championship, saying that next year’s edition would be more exciting.

He said, “This is a major improvement from last year’s competition and again for the very first time in the last six years, we found a Nigerian winning the men’s singles and this brings a lot of excitement for me because I have been supporting table tennis and I know that next year’s tournament will be more exciting than this.

“As a government, we are going to put more support; we put more financial support so that we can attract more people and also encourage more Nigerians to participate. You know we actually gave bonus to Nigerians that have qualified and that is also to encourage more of our own local players to compete internationally,” Governor Ambode said.

ITTF CHALLENGE: Ambode Pledges Bigger Tournament In 2019 %Post Title
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); presents cheque to the winner of the Men’s Singles of 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, Quadri Aruna (left) while runner up, Hachard Antoine from France (right), watches during the closing ceremony of the 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Sunday, August 12, 2018.

He particularly assured that the State Government would put efforts in place to host the tournament in a bigger hall to encourage more participation, just as he assured that the programmes of his administration for sports development in the State were on course.

“We have a master programme to encourage sports in Lagos State and people would see it as it is unfolding. You can see that we are reconstructing Onikan Stadium; we are going to Ajegunle to do another Sports Complex there and I don’t want to overpromise but I can assure that next year, we are going to do this tennis tournament in a bigger hall that can take 16 sets at the same time and also take maybe about 5,000 fans at the same time,” Governor Ambode said.

Quadri emerged victorious after defeating his opponent from France, Harchard Antoine to win $5,000. The Nigerian also won another $200 courtesy of the fair play award which was also awarded to him.

 

ITTF CHALLENGE: Ambode Pledges Bigger Tournament In 2019 %Post Title
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd rightt); presents a trophy to the winner, Quadri Aruna (2nd left) during the closing ceremony of the 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Sunday, August 12, 2018. With them: runner up of the Men’s Singles of 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, Hachard Antoine from France (right) and President, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Engr. Ishaku Tikon (left).

Also, the best Nigerian home-grown player of the tournament, Jamiu Ayanwale was rewarded with cash gift of $200.

Responding, Quadri thanked the fans who supported him all the way to win the tournament, saying the victory could not have been possible without their support.

“If not for my fans that supported me all the way, this victory would not have been possible and so I want to thank the people for standing by me,” Quadri said.

ITTF CHALLENGE: Ambode Pledges Bigger Tournament In 2019 %Post Title
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, presents trophy to the winner the Women’s Singles of 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, Guo Yan from China, while the runner up, Sun Chen from China (right) and President, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Engr. Ishaku Tikon (left), look on during the closing ceremony of the 2018 ITTF Nigeria Open, at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on Sunday, August 12, 2018.

Antonie, who is from France, was rewarded with $2,500 for emerging as the first runner up of the men’s singles, while Guo Yan from China went home with $5,000 for winning the women’s singles. Her fellow compatriot, Sun Chen was awarded with $2,500 for emerging as the first runner up of the women’s singles.

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