Alimot Olasunkanmi of Oba Laoye Grammar School Ede emerged victorious after a week of fierce competition at the inaugural Erelu Ngozi Adeleke table tennis championship. With elite female student-athletes from across Osun State vying for the coveted trophy, Olasunkanmi cemented her name in the record books by defeating Kabirat Bankole of NUD Oke Baale, Osogbo in the first semi-final, and then defeated Hamzat Hikimat of Adventist Grammar School, Ede in the exhilarating finals match.
The 2024 Erelu Ngozi Table Tennis Championship which was held at the Michael and Felicia Alabi Hall in the Osogbo City Stadium, Osogbo, saw over 26 female secondary school students from across Osun State participate in the week-long tournament organized by Sports Gig International in collaboration with the Osun State First Lady, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke.
The competition featured a knockout format with competitors from various Secondary Schools in Osun State facing off in singles matches.
On the final day, Alimot Olasunkanmi of Oba Laoye Grammar School Ede showed her talent by defeating Kabirat Bankole of NUD Oke Baale, Osogbo in the first semi-final and Hamzat Hikimat of Adventist Grammar School, Ede in the final to emerge as the winner of the championship.
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The final match between Alimot Olasunkanmi and Hamzat Hikimat produced one of the most thrilling moments of the competition entertaining spectators and dignitaries present. Olasunkanmi displayed her skills to defeat Hikimat in two straight sets to lift the trophy.
In her address after the final, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, the wife of the Osun State Governor, said the goal of organizing the competition was to discover and encourage young talents. She expressed her delight at the performance of the participants, saying “they came prepared, they have been doing it and the whole world has seen my girls from Osun State competing. It gladdens my heart as we watched the grand
finale.”
The winner, Alimot Olasunkanmi, thanked God and Erelu Ngozi Adeleke for the opportunity to participate in the competition. She said, “I thank God for the victory and I want to specially appreciate the wife of our Governor, Her Excellency, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke for everything she’s done and is still doing, especially this competition. I pray the Lord will bless her.”
Erelu Ngozi Adeleke also promised to give the winner a cash gift in addition to the prize from the organizers.
Looking Ahead The success of the 2024 Erelu Ngozi Adeleke Table Tennis Championship has set the stage for an even bigger and better competition in 2025 according to Erelu Ngozi Adeleke. The championship has achieved its goal of discovering and encouraging emerging talents in Osun State.
