Kuti and Aiyelabegan Reclaim Gold at 3rd Daniel Ford Table Tennis Tournament

Posted : 21 December 2025

Matthew Kuti and Sukurat Aiyelabegan successfully reclaimed the titles they lost in 2024 at the third Daniel Ford Elite Invitational Table Tennis Tournament, held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. The competition attracted promising young talents from across Nigeria and highlighted the rising standard of grassroots table tennis.

The colourful finals saw prominent attendees, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission. Sponsor Yemi Edun reiterated his commitment to hosting the annual tournament, noting that its growth reflected increasing interest in developing youth talent nationwide.

Kuti delivered a commanding performance throughout the tournament, defeating Muiz Adegoke 4-0 in the final to reclaim the boys’ U-19 title. This marked Kuti’s second U-19 triumph in three editions of the championship, highlighting his consistent skill and dedication.

Sukurat Aiyelabegan also impressed in the girls’ U-19 category, defeating Khadijat Okanlawon 4-0 to secure her second title in three years. Other notable winners included Chinenye Okafor, who retained the girls’ U-15 crown and earned the female Most Valuable Player award, while Habeeb Adebayo claimed the boys’ U-12 title and the boys’ MVP award. Elizabeth Emelike took home the girls’ U-12 singles crown, and Joseph Marvelous of Kogi defeated Umar Ayoola of Lagos 3-0 to win the boys’ U-15 title.

In an interview, Edun explained that his passion for grassroots sports inspired his sponsorship of the tournament. “I grew up around this venue and watched competitions here. I was never a great athlete, but I enjoyed watching others excel,” he said. He also described table tennis as a sport capable of grooming young champions more effectively than many team sports and emphasized the importance of nurturing talent for Nigeria’s future.

Governor Sanwo-Olu commended Edun’s vision, urging athletes to embrace discipline, hard work, and to avoid doping. “We must commend Yemi Edun for keeping faith with this tournament. This is what grassroots sports development requires,” he said, highlighting the significance of the event in the country’s sporting landscape.

The third edition of the tournament was widely regarded as an improvement over previous editions, with organizers and spectators hopeful that it will continue to produce talented players capable of representing Nigeria at international competitions in the coming years.

Kuti and Aiyelabegan Reclaim Gold at 3rd Daniel Ford Table Tennis Tournament

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