Unseeded Oyo State emerged champions at the 2nd Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships, held over the weekend at Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Led by the dynamic duo of Wasiu Azeez and Halima Hussein, Oyo defied the odds in a tournament featuring 30 teams from Nigeria, Togo, and the Benin Republic. The team battled its way to the final, overcoming top-seeded sides including Lagos, Edo, and Kwara.

The championship final, attended by tournament sponsor Senator Tokunbo Abiru, featured thrilling rallies and dazzling skills that kept spectators on edge. Oyo took an early lead by winning the mixed doubles, but Bayelsa’s Hope Udoaka quickly leveled the score. Azeez then delivered a spirited comeback, overturning a 1-0 deficit to defeat Samuel Boboye 3-1.

Hussein, alongside her women’s doubles partner Khadijat Okanlawon, sealed the victory by defeating Udoaka and Iyanuoluwa Falana, securing a 3-1 triumph for Oyo.

In the third-place match, Kwara bounced back from their semifinal defeat with a 3-0 win over Lagos Team 2, clinching the bronze at the ₦5.5 million prize money event.

Senator Abiru praised the athletes for their performances and reaffirmed his commitment to the championship’s growth:

“This tournament has shown that when we create the right environment for our youth, talent flourishes, friendships blossom, and excellence thrives. We witnessed passion, skill, and sportsmanship from athletes across Nigeria and Africa, reminding us of the beauty of competition and the unity sports can foster.”

Looking ahead, Abiru promised a bigger and more inclusive edition in 2026:

“Our goal is to position the Senator Abiru Mixed Team Table Tennis Championships as a premier sporting event in Africa—one that places Lagos East, Lagos State, and Nigeria firmly on the continental sports map. Let us carry forward the spirit of teamwork, perseverance, and fair play, supporting and celebrating our young people, for in them lies the promise of a greater tomorrow.”