The 6th Lagos Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open kicks off on Thursday, November 7, at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. This year’s event welcomes athletes from the United Kingdom, Iran, Iraq, Cameroon, Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and host country Nigeria.

Sunday Odebode, founder and President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN), expressed excitement at a press conference on November 6, praising the growth in participation, with players from across Europe, Asia, and Africa. “The turnout this year shows how the tournament is expanding and gaining global attention. We’re thrilled to welcome more international players,” Odebode shared.

ITTF Para Manager Pablo Perez praised Nigeria’s rising profile in para table tennis, acknowledging the ITTF’s support for this African event. He highlighted Nigerian players’ international success, especially Isau Ogunkunle, who won bronze at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. “The performance of Nigerian athletes reflects their dedication. We’re glad to witness another tournament here and recognize the hard work of Odebode and his team,” Perez said.

According to referee Asko Rasinen, over 30 players have been certified by classifiers, a step that allows them to start their professional careers. Valuejet’s Marketing and Communication Manager Uchechi Achomadu reaffirmed the airline’s support, applauding the athletes’ resilience and encouraging strong competition.

Isau Ogunkunle, who brought home a bronze medal in Men’s Class 5 at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, described his time in Paris as life-changing and aims to defend his title this year.