Teslim Balogun Stadium agog as Adegoke, Odusanya begin title defence

Teslim Balogun Stadium

Christmas is around the corner, but for Muiz Adegoke and Bose Odusanya, it is business as usual at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, where they are facing challenges from ambitious players who are eyeing their Molade Okoya Thomas titles.

For table tennis buffs, it is another opportunity to celebrate the season with a good dose of actions. Yesterday at the venue, many of the players were seen getting acquainted to the atmosphere, which promises to reach its crescendo today.

Adegoke and Odusanya say they are ready for whatever their challengers have in their armoury in this 55th edition of the Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Cup.

Adegoke, who dethroned David Fayele in 2022, is hoping to retain the title having missed his first attempt at the title in 2021 due to his academic commitment. He said at the weekend that he is ready repeat his 2022 feat where he edged out former champions, Rilwan Akanbi and Fayele, in the semifinal and finals to claim his first senior title at Nigeria’s oldest sports competition.

Odusanya, who has been winning the women’s singles title since 2015, has promised to continue her dominance again this year. “I don’t think I am ready to relinquish the title this year because none of the players can match me in the final.

But I would not underrate any player this year because everybody is eyeing the trophy and nothing can separate from the title this year,” she said.
The Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup, originally known as Asoju Oba Cup, has produced some of the finest table tennis players in Africa. This year’s event, according to Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA), will feature senior and junior events.

Speaking on the competition, the late Asoju-Oba’s son, Deji Okoya-Thomas,