Ojaja Championships: Ooni Set To Grace Thrilling Table Tennis Final
By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE
Ooni Set for Friday’s Final
THE maiden Ojaja Table Tennis Championships in Ile-Ife, Osun State, will reach its climax on Friday, with the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, expected to grace the final.
The tournament, organised as part of activities marking the popular Olojo Festival, entered its decisive stage on Thursday after a keenly contested opening day.
Players from the six states of the South-West geopolitical zone took part in the competition, with quarterfinalists emerging from the early rounds.
Young & Experienced Players on Show
The championship has brought together a mix of young and experienced table tennis players.
The field includes national and international representatives, coaches and emerging talents seeking opportunities to test themselves against stronger opposition.
Organisers said the tournament is designed not only to celebrate the Olojo Festival but also to promote grassroots table tennis development.
By bringing players to Ile-Ife, the competition is providing young talents with an opportunity to showcase their skills and gain valuable competitive experience.
Palace Support for the Championship
The Ooni’s elder brother, Prince Adegboyega Abimbola Ogunwusi, the Sooko La’ekun of Ile-Ife, attended the opening day.
He welcomed the participants to the ancient city and encouraged them to use their visit as an opportunity to explore important historical sites within the palace and its surroundings.
The Ooni’s aunt, Professor Adebola Sobola, the Sooko Waboodu of Ile-Ife, also attended the opening.
She commended the organisers for bringing the tournament to Ile-Ife, describing the decision as a significant addition to the city’s sporting and cultural activities.
Olojo Festival Gets Sporting Boost
Professor Sobola said the championship had added another dimension to the Olojo Festival.
She noted that the Ooni himself had a personal connection with table tennis, recalling that he used to play the sport.
According to her, the tournament’s combination of young and experienced players, including national and international representatives, made the opening edition particularly significant.
She expressed confidence that the Ooni would continue to support the initiative and said he was expected to join the participants during Friday’s final.
Sports as a Tool for Youth Development
Sobola also highlighted the wider importance of engaging young people through sport.
She said sporting activities could help keep young people away from idleness and potentially harmful activities by giving them constructive ways to use their time and develop their abilities.
She urged adults and other stakeholders to continue creating opportunities that would allow young people’s talents to flourish.
According to her, sustained engagement could also help address isolation and other challenges confronting young people.
Hopes for a Bigger Second Edition
The professor described the maiden championship as only the beginning, expressing optimism that subsequent editions would become bigger.
She said the organisers would learn from the first edition and improve the competition in future years.
Sobola also suggested that the Ooni could eventually establish a permanent indoor table tennis facility within the palace, given his interest in the sport and youth development.
Finalists Ready for the Decisive Battle
With the quarterfinalists now confirmed, attention has shifted to the business end of the competition.
The remaining players will battle for honours as the championship reaches its climax on Friday.
The final is expected to attract the Ooni, palace officials, participants and other stakeholders, adding a royal and cultural dimension to an event that organisers hope will become a regular platform for developing table tennis talent in the South-West.
