Photo:www.vanguardngr.com
As the 47th edition of the Asoju Oba Table Tennis Competition kicks off in Lagos. We reflect on one of the desires of the founder of the competition.
The late Sir Molade Okoya Thomas who founded the Asoju Oba Cup, said in his opening speech in the 45th edition of the competition that he should be allowed to invite Coaches and get technical support from China and Sweden. A desire which he did not achieve until his demise.
However, we look critically at the 47 years of the competition in the country and the reflection of the competition in Nigeria's Olympic performance.
Nigeria is yet to win a medal at the Olympics in Table Tennis and this competition has gone on 47 uninterrupted years in Lagos, Nigeria, with hope that one day Nigeria will make landmark achievement in the game at the Olympics.
The Rio De Janeiro Olympics is close at hand, and its really of concern if this 47th edition could be the turning point for our dream of winning an Olympic Medal in Table Tennis.
Winners have always emerged at the Asoju Oba Table Tennis Competition, but metamorphosing that winner into an Olympic Medalist is still a challenge. May be we should look at the desire of the man who founded the competition, and see if something positive could come out of it.
Asoju Oba lives on, his dreams and desires is seen each time athletes gather for the competition and the ultimate desire is making Nigeria a non Mono-Sports nation.
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