Top seeds progress as doubles events hold at 45th Asoju Oba Cup

Most of the top seeded players at the 45th Asoju Oba Cup table tennis championship advanced to the next stage of the tournament as the nine titles at stake in the doubles events hold on Wednesday.

The likes of Mojeed Olayiwola, Ayo Omotara, Bolaji Asekun, Seun Adeleye, Hammed Adeyinka, Olakunle Ajulo, Olajide Omotayo and Azeez Ogunlade had easy sail in the men’s singles to the round of 32 of the competition.

In the women’s singles, number one seed, Funke Hassan, as well as other seeded players like Ayo Udoh, Tolu Durosimi-Etti, Morufat Idris, Bose Odusanya, Taiwo Williams, Alimot Ayinla and Nimota Aregbesola moved to the round of 16 of the tournament.

However, Lagos Classics junior girls’ runner’s up, 15 year-old Alimot Ayinla, believes she can upstage some of the top rated players in the championship.

The senior class two student of Aunty Ayo Comprehensive Secondary School, Lagos Island said she is determined to win the star prize.

“I know I am capable of winning the car because I trained hard for this competition and that is what inspired me to register for the senior event. At the last edition, I lost out in the semifinal stage of the junior event, but with the knowledge I garnered at the Lagos Classics, I am sure that I will stand on the podium at the end of the competition,” Ayinla said.

Also on Wednesday, the senior and junior players in the championship holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium will jostle for the nine titles for grab in the doubles events.

According to assistant technical director of the competition, Ranti Lajide, the winners in the nine doubles events would be decided on Wednesday as the sponsor – Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas is expected to grace the presentation ceremony on Wednesday.