Young table tennis players from Kogi State have won laurels for Nigeria at the just-concluded African Youth Table Tennis Championship and African Cup in Accra, Ghana.
The players showed class against some of Africa’s best youngsters, reinforcing Kogi’s status as a hub for grassroots table tennis development.
At the African Youth Championship, Joseph Victor and Joseph Marvelous won gold in the U-15 boys’ doubles.
The duo also teamed up with Samson Joshua and Umar Ayoola of Lagos State to win silver in the U-15 boys’ team event.
Joshua also won two bronze medals in the U-15 boys’ singles and doubles. He won the doubles bronze alongside Ayoola and claimed bronze in the U-15 mixed doubles with Chinoye Okafor of Abia State.
At the African Cup, Joshua added another bronze in the U-15 boys’ singles, while Ize Aziza Sezuo won bronze in the U-15 girls’ singles.
The feat has been attributed to sustained training and exposure to competitive tournaments under Coach Friday Abah, who has been credited with nurturing the players for elite competitions.
The Chairman of the Kogi State Table Tennis Association, Dr Shaibu Mohammed, was also commended for his financial and moral support for grassroots development in the state.
The performance is seen as proof that investment in youth sports can produce athletes capable of competing at continental and global levels, including the Commonwealth Games, Olympics and World Championships.
It underscores the potential of young Nigerian athletes when talent is matched with quality coaching and structured support.
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