SPORTS
2024 WTT Contender: Lagos Promises Hitch-free Competition
Lekan Fatodu, Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, on Tuesday restated the government’s commitment to provide the right atmosphere for hosting international tournaments in the state.
Fatodu gave the assurance in his opening address at the news conference for the Lagos World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender, scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
Reports says that the event is scheduled to hold at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium from Wednesday June 19 to June 23.
Fatodu said that the state would parade home grown talents that would favourably contest with the international Stars at the tournament.
“It’s on a very good note that l welcome everyone to the first WTT Contender Series in Sub-Saharan Africa in the state of the Aquatic splendour, Lagos, Nigeria.
“We are very glad to welcome our Table Tennis Players to another milestone in the history of the state in promoting sporting excellence, where the WTT Contender will be unfolding for the next five days.
“As a state, we are ever ready for this kind of showpiece as our homegrown and budding players like Muizz Adegoke and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai are already warming up for the world event.
“Our indefatigable Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been demonstrating unwavering support in sporting infrastructure,” he said.
Fatodu added that they would leave no stone unturned in the development of sports and other activities that would expose athletes in the state to international championships.
”It’s on this note that our home and international players will enjoy a hitch free tournament as the event is about to record another inspiring achievement in the ping-pong game.
“Our visiting players will also enjoy the hospitality nature of the state in terms of accommodation, transportation and our attractive tourists’ centres.
“We cannot do away with the development of sports in our circle and this 400 ITTF world ranking points Table Tennis championships.
“The championships serves as an avenue for our local players to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Brazilian Hugo Calderano, Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany, among top players ready to feature in this tournament,” he said.
Fatodu said that Lagos was a pacesetter in the sports and infrastructure development.
“Hosting another world championship in the commercial nerve centre of the country is putting the state on the world map and also creating an avenue for the budding talents to explore and excel.
“This is Lagos and we are open to subsequent major tournaments.
“Welcome to Lagos, Nigeria, where WTT Contender is taking place and we are very sure that champions will be unveiled here,” he said. (NAN)
English and Italian football giants Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus will square up for pre-season friendlies in Hong Kong in August, the clubs announced yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, currently arm-wrestling Arsenal for the Premier League title, will take on Inter Milan on Saturday, August 1, spearheaded by their Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland.
The match will kick off the “Hong Kong Football Festival” at the city’s futuristic 50,000-seat Kai Tak stadium.
The gleaming arena opened a year ago, featuring a roof that can be closed and air-conditioning to combat the fierce summer heat and humidity in Hong Kong.
Chelsea will play Juventus on Wednesday August 5 to round off the mini-tournament.
Lagos State will host the second edition of the National School Volleyball Championships from April 21 to April 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
President of the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), Olabisi Joseph, said in a statement on Monday that schools from across the country had converged for the four-day tournament.
She said the competition meant for secondary schools is organised by the NSSF in collaboration with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), with support from the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC).
Joseph said the annual tournament aims to develop volleyball in the school system and identify outstanding athletes who will represent Nigeria at the International School Sport Federation (ISF) events.
She expressed delight at the growing interest among schools nationwide and urged participants to be worthy ambassadors of their institutions.
“In Nigeria, we are blessed with an abundance of talent in the school system.
“Volleyball, being one of the popular sports in schools, has ignited healthy rivalry among students.
“Sports stimulates learning, so we are building a total child through events like this,” she said.
Joseph added that standout athletes from the Lagos championship would be shortlisted to compete at the ISF World School Volleyball Championship in China.
She described the event as a unique opportunity for young players to showcase their skills before global scouts.
“Teams from Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ogun, Taraba, Bauchi and other states are competing for honours, with NVBF technical officials on ground to scout for talent.”
The maiden edition of the National School Volleyball Championships was held in Abuja, where host teams won both the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Outstanding players from the FCT, Plateau and Kaduna states later represented Nigeria at the 2025 ISF World School Volleyball Championships in China.
The World School Volleyball Championship is scheduled to be held from July 1 to July 10 in China.
Guinea will face Nigeria’s Flamingos in the final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Guineans defeated Niger Republic 3-0 in the second leg of their qualifying fixture in Conakry on Saturday.
They won the contest 8-2 on aggregate, following their 5-2 triumph in the first leg last week.
The winner of the Flamingos versus Guinea clash will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Flamingos set up camp in Abuja for the clash with their fellow West Africans last week.
Newly appointed head coach, Akeem Busari invited 36 players to camp for the team’s preparation.
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