The 2024 Lagos individual boxing club championship has commenced at the Bishop Aggey Senior Secondary School in the Mushin Area of the state.

In its bid to continue using the instrumentality of sports to shape the career of youths, giving an avenue for the boxers and up and coming stars, honing their skills, and in preparation for upcoming national competitions , the Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission Lekan Fatodu, reiterated that the state is determined is encouraging sports development at the grassroots level.

He emphasized the significance of the initiative in promoting a sense of belonging among the youths in the community, encouraging a culture of better understanding and to take into a venture that instills self-discipline, self-development, self-reliance, and aid the community in eliminating social vices and any wrong doing.

Boxing techniques and actions were on display as boxers from their different categories took to the ring to express their prowess in pugilism at the Bishop Aggay playing ground.

Fatodu while declaring the championship open said the purpose of having the tournament in Mushin is because of the fact that boxing is one of the engagements that is perculiar to the Mushin community, adding that the young peoples potentials need to be harnessed and encouraged as a way of identifying raw talents that would represent the state and country at the national and international levels.

In an intense encounter between Yusuf Fawaz in blue corner and Animashaun Sherif (red) from Lion Boxing Club ended 2- in favour of the latter while Bodude Olamilekan dominance from the beginning to the end earned him a victory of 3-0 over Ozumba Tony of Oluomo Boxing Club.

It was a free day for Babalola Ibukun who showed his level of dexterity and ability in throwing punches rounded off Kazeem Yusuf of Oluomo Boxing Club 3 to nil in the 62kg category. In the 63kg category, Olawepo Samuel from Badagry Boxing Club did not submitted to the powerful punches of Isaac Aderibigbe earning him a victory of 2-1 in a split decisions of the judges.

Director, Sports Development, LSSC, Nunayon Travih, remarked that the tournament was in tandem with the mantra of the present administration in not leaving anyone behind, using the platform to identify talents that will be groomed for the National Sports Festival and those that will be monitored to develop their career path and have a means of livelihood.

Omolei Imadu, Founder Yucateco Boxing League, heaped praises on the Lagos State Government for creating an enabling environment and always giving listening ears and aiding athletes sports development.

Directors from the Lagos State Sports Commission, and Senior Special Assistants to Governor on Sports Development, Grassroots and Sports Marketing and Partnership, Damilare Orimoloye,Adebanji Atewogboye and Onaopemipo Adu were all present at the event.

Other winners in different categories are:Adeleke Lateef 53.3kg,Gbadeyan Mayowa 54kg, Jesugbesan David 53kg, Olayiwola Ibrahim 61kg, Ogunsola Muheez 62kg, Ileubare Samuel 63kg, Kuyebi Samuel 60.9kg, and Aberegidi Ebi 62.5kg.

Tournament No. 2 seed, Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna has been forced to withdraw from the Men’s Singles event at the 2024 ITTF Africa Championships in Addis Ababa due to a thigh injury and fatigue.

Despite leading Nigeria to a gold medal in the team event against Algeria on October 14, Aruna had to pull out of his second-round match against Benin Republic’s Dodji Fanny.

Aruna explained, “I’ve been playing in various tournaments for the past two months, often in different time zones. I was in India, Macau, China, and then Saudi Arabia for league matches. After a brief rest at home, I went to the French League for a training camp. Immediately after, I travelled to Ethiopia, which was exhausting. The high altitude in Addis Ababa made it even harder to acclimatize.”

He added, “During the team event, I felt pain in my buttock and tightness in my hamstring. It’s crucial to rest now to avoid worsening the injury.”

With several tournaments still ahead this year, including two more WTT Champions and leagues in Saudi Arabia and France, Aruna emphasized the importance of recovery. “I need to rest to ensure I don’t aggravate the injury,” he said.

Aruna will stay with the team to support the younger players and will depart Addis Ababa with them this weekend.

Nigeria’s Wahid Enitan Oshodi has been unanimously elected as the 6th President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) during the Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Oshodi becomes the second Nigerian to lead the continental body, following Engr Segun George, who served from 1988 to 1996.

Oshodi, currently the Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), will succeed Egypt’s Khaled El-Salhy, who completed three terms (2010-2024) as ATTF President.

The 40-member electorate’s unanimous support for Oshodi reflects overwhelming delegate confidence in his leadership for the next four years.

With this election, Oshodi stands as the only Nigerian heading a continental sports organization.

Cameroon’s Alfred Bagueka was also unanimously elected as the Deputy President of ATTF.

Additionally, Germain Karou and Andrew Mudibo were elected as Executive Vice Presidents (EVP) for Technical and Development, respectively.

The positions for EVP Administration, Finance, Media/PR, and Marketing saw keen competition among candidates from Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mauritania, and Uganda. For EVP Marketing, Ghana’s Mawuko Afadzinu triumphed over Uganda’s Robert Jjagwe with 22 votes to 18. Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Bizane won EVP Media/PR with 29 votes.

South Africa’s Hajera Kajee secured EVP Finance with 20 votes, and Egypt’s Moataz Ashour won EVP Administration with 32 votes.

The Regional Vice Presidents elected include Benin Republic’s Ferdinand Sounou (West)

Congo’s Christian Wonga (Central), Libya’s Gallel Amadeddin (North), South Africa’s Joe Carrim (South), Djibouti’s Mohmoud Omir (East).

From the 15 candidates that contested for the ITTF Council, outgoing ATTF President Khaled El-Salhy joined seven others to secure continental tickets to the world body. Joining El-Salhy in the eight-member council are Nigeria’s Olabanji Oladapo, Botswana’s Kudzanani Motswagole, Benin Republic’s Ferdinand Sounou, Cameroon’s Alfred Bagueka, South Africa’s Joe Carrim, Tunisia’s Jalem Zayati, and Uganda’s Thomas Kiggundu.