Upsets rule Kandaval Cup Inter-School table tennis championship

There were surprises at the sixth Kandaval Inter-school Table tennis championship, also known as Kandaval Cup, one being the ouster of the boys and girls’ defending champions in the quarterfinal and semi-final rounds respectively of the event held at Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, over the weekend.

Muiz Adegoke of Birch Freeman High School, who went on to win the boy’s singles event, dismissed top seed and defending champion, Gbadamosi Dare of Isheri Grammar School, in two straight sets.

Muibi Barakat of Stadium High School, who had earlier trashed the defending champion, Zaniab Moruf, in straight sets in the semi-finals, won the girls’ trophy at the expense of Adetunji Adeola of Oduduwa Senior Secondary School.

In addition to the trophies, each winner got a tablet and other prizes, including a slot in a high level training programme, where they will be tutored by Coach Sylvester Dominic at Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

At the end of the competition, sponsor of the annual championship, Tony Obot, who is the Managing Director of Kandaval Communications Ltd, applauded the players for their skills and called on other stakeholders to contribute their quota to the development of table tennis in Nigeria.

He said, “I have since called it quits with criticising government and others for the rot in Nigerian sports. I have chosen to put my money where my mouth is… let us all join hands and make the sports great again.”

Kandaval Inter-School Table Tennis Championship is an annual competition specially created to develop table tennis talents from the grassroots.