More than 130 elite table tennis players from across the world are currently competing at the third edition of the Lagos WTT Contender taking place at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Eko Hot News reports that the prestigious tournament has attracted some of the world’s highest-ranked table tennis stars battling for honours, Olympic ranking points and a grand prize of $100,000.
The competition also serves as a qualification pathway for the 2028 Olympic Games and the upcoming World Championships scheduled to hold in Kazakhstan next year.
Speaking at the venue, the event director, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, described the tournament as the result of 13 years of steady growth and consistency in table tennis development in Lagos State.
According to him, the competition began in 2013 as the Lagos International Table Tennis Classic under the administration of former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
He explained that the event later evolved into the ITTF Nigeria Open, then the ITTF Challenger Series before becoming the Lagos WTT Contender in 2024 after meeting international standards set by the International Table Tennis Federation.
Dr. Tandoh noted that Lagos has consistently hosted the tournament for 13 uninterrupted years, helping to improve the exposure and development of Nigerian table tennis players.
He added that the tournament has now become fully sponsored by the corporate sector with support from the International Table Tennis Federation, making it a model for sports development in Nigeria.
According to him, the competition demonstrates how private sector investment can strengthen sports growth instead of relying solely on government funding.
This year’s edition is regarded as one of the most competitive so far due to the quality of players participating in the tournament.
Tournament organisers disclosed that five top-20 players and about 30 top-100 players in the world are participating in both the male and female categories.
The high level of participation is expected to deliver exciting matches and world-class performances throughout the competition.
President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Dr. Ade Taiwo, said the tournament remains important for the growth of Nigerian and African table tennis players.
He stated that the event provides local players with the rare opportunity to compete directly against elite international stars and improve their technical skills.
According to Dr. Taiwo, Nigerian players possess enormous talent but require regular exposure to top-level competition to sharpen their performance and gain international experience.
He also noted that Nigeria and Tunisia remain the only African countries currently hosting WTT Contender events on the continent.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Lekan Fatodu, expressed satisfaction over Lagos hosting the global tournament once again.
Represented by Dr. Oluwasanmi Oriyomi, Fatodu welcomed all athletes, officials and delegates to Lagos State.
He said the state remained proud of the competition’s role in producing outstanding talents who continue to represent Nigeria successfully on the global stage.
Fatodu also encouraged visiting athletes and delegates to explore the tourism and cultural attractions available in Lagos during the tournament.
According to him, Lagos remains Nigeria’s commercial and cultural hub and will continue to provide a conducive environment for international sporting events.
The Lagos WTT Contender has become one of Africa’s biggest table tennis tournaments, attracting global attention and strengthening Nigeria’s reputation in international sports.
Sports stakeholders believe the competition will further boost youth participation in table tennis while creating more opportunities for emerging Nigerian players.
The tournament is expected to continue over the coming days with intense matches featuring some of the best table tennis talents in the world.
