Procold Open: Toriola, Edem are champ

Reigning Commonwealth and Africa Men's Singles Table Tennis title holder, Segun Ikuesan last Saturday in Lagos played the game of his life to defeat determined home-boy, Seun Ajetunmobi by 4-3 sets in the finals of the Procold/Orange Drugs Lagos Table Tennis Open Championship.

Ajetunmobi who decisioned foreign-based, Lanre Jegede in the semi-finals trailed Toriola in the first two sets of the finals in the
best-of-seven games of 11-9 and 11-5.

The Union Bank Table Tennis club of Lagos player fought back to pick the next two sets of 11-9 and 11-7 to even scores but lost the fifth set to the more experience Toriola by 15-13 only to rallied back to win the sixth set by 11-6 and fell by same margin (11-6) in the decider.

With the win last Saturday Toriola won for himself the star-prize of $1,000 and a 29" colour television while Ajetunmobi was rewarded with the sum of N80, 000 for his gallantary.

The champion, Toriola was full of praise to his opponent and appeal to the authority to wake up to their responsibilities by making sure that
more tournaments are organised.

And in the Women's Singles final, it was home-girl and Nigeria number-one ranked female ping-ponger, Offiom Edem that emerged winner beating Funke Oshinaike in the final by 4-2 sets of (5-11; 9-11, 11-5; 11-9; 11-6 and 11-5) to cart home the $800 prize money while Oshinaike went home with N50, 000.

Ganiyu Ashimiyu won the Junior Men's Singles title beating hard fighting Ojo Onaolapo from Ondo state by 4-2 sets of 11-13; 11-4; 11-8;
5-11;11-9 and 11-6 while Ganiat Olatunde of the Young Men Christain Association, YMCA of Lagos carted the prize in the Junior Women's Singles event with a 4-0 sets victory of 11-6; 11-7; 11-4 and 11-6 over Adeola Idowu from Edo State.

Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association organisers of the four-day event, Waheed Enitan Oshodi praise the players for their
wonderful display of skills and promised that his association will continue to do its best to lift the standard of the game in Lagos in
particular and Nigeria in general.

The LSTTA boss also thanked the sponsors Procold/Orange Drugs for sponsoring the event and appeals to them to continue with the sponsorship of the event annually.

Country Manager of the Anti Cold drug, Didik Novandi says he is happy with the large turn out of top players for the championship and promised that plans for the second edition will commence in earnest.