2023 African Games gold medalist, Matthew Kuti, aims to defend his title at the second edition of the Daniel Ford Elite Youth Table Tennis Invitational Championships which serves off on Friday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The tournament, organised by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation and funded by Daniel Ford International oversaw a successful two-day coaching clinic.
Kuti, in excellent form after competing in several international tournaments, including the Africa Championships in Ethiopia faces stiff competition, particularly from rivals such as Muiz Adegoke and Abdulbasit Abdulfatai, both of whom are determined to challenge his dominance.
Adegoke, who has yet to fulfill his potential at the national level, is particularly focused on the doubles event and has high hopes of replicating his previous successes.
“I am hoping to make it to the final this year,” he said, expressing confidence in his ability to challenge the tournament’s top players.
He also added that the emergence of new talent, especially from recent continental tournaments held in Botswana, promising an exciting and competitive two-day event.
National coach Dotun Omoniyi believes the coaching clinic has already elevated the competition level, noting that the players are eager to showcase their improved skills and humble their opponents.
The tournament will feature a star-studded U-19 event with intense battles, as the players vie for supremacy in the national youth table tennis scene.
