Rilwan Akanbi and Fatimo Bello have emerged winners of the men’s singles and women’s singles events at the 2021 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Western Region Championship in the best of seven games.
Rilwan Akanbi emerged the new regional champion in the Men’s Singles event, after he defeated his counterpart, Azeez Solanke, 4-3 (7-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8), while Fatimo Bello also won 4-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9) against her opponent, Aminat Fashola.
In the Women’s Doubles, Fatimo Bello and Bose Odusanya set a new tournament record after beating Hope Uduak and Vivian Oku, while in the Men’s Doubles, Amadi Omeh and Etim Orok defeated the Ghanaian pair of Derek Abrefa and Emmanuel Commey 3-2 (4-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7) in the final of the best of five games.
The four-day tournament ended on November 4, 2021 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
Singles’ champion, Rilwan Akanbi stated:
“I am so excited and I feel good winning this tournament because I never believed I can. Though I trained for it, and when the defending champion lost out, I challenged myself to win the tournament.
I believe it is God that crowned my success, but I trained really hard for this tournament,” he said, adding that he exploited his opponent’s weakness to defeat him. Playing against Solanke was not an easy task because he is also a good player, but I am glad I won.”
According to Fatima Bello:
“This one is tougher and more tasking than the last edition, but I am glad I was able to retain my title.”
The Secretary General, ITTF Africa Western Region, Germain Karou, said the tournament was a huge success considering the quality of the organisation.
In the words of Germain Karou:
“I am impressed with what Nigeria has put up, particularly the standard of play from the players.
“We hope and believe Nigeria will continue to lead the region so that others can come up and compete favourably with them at continental and global levels.”
