The Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) has commenced trials to select athletes who will represent the state at the maiden National Intermediate Games, Eko 2026.
The one-day trial session is holding at Ikoyi Club 1938 on Saturday, August 29, as Lagos begins preparations for the multi-sport competition scheduled for October 1 to 15.
Chairman of the LSTTA, Tunji Lawal, said the exercise is aimed at assembling a strong team capable of maintaining Lagos’ dominance in Nigerian table tennis.
Lawal stressed that selection would be based strictly on performance, noting that the trials will continue until the final squad is determined, with training sessions running alongside the selection process.
A total of 14 athletes, comprising seven boys and seven girls, are taking part in the trials. The girls include Aishat Rabiu, Ifeoluwa Ajasa, Faisat Musbau, Rianat Olanrewaju, Taiwo Akanbi, Halimat Rasheed and Hayisat Zakariah.
The boys’ team features African U-19 champion Matthew Kuti, alongside Quadri Atunwon, Tobi Adebakin, Usman Ayoola, Ahmed Ayatulahi, Adeoye Hussein and Adesanya Sodiq.
Eko 2026 is expected to attract more than 15,000 athletes aged between 15 and 18 from across Nigeria. The Games are designed to provide a pathway for young athletes to transition from amateur competitions to elite national and international levels.
Meanwhile, LSTTA’s monthly cadet tournament at Lagos Country Club continues to showcase the state’s emerging talent, with Umar Ayoola and Aminat Lawal recently winning the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively.
