Sports
Aruna, Goda Continue Africa’s World Title Push In Doha
Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna and Egypt’s Hana Goda have kept Africa’s hopes alive at the 2025 ITTF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, as they advanced to the third round of the singles events in impressive fashion on Monday
Amid a wave of African exits on day three of the championships, Aruna showed composure and class to overcome Norway’s Borgar Haug 4-2 in a gripping men’s singles contest at Qatar University.
The Nigerian, Africa’s top-ranked player, was forced to dig deep against Haug, whose lower world ranking belied a spirited performance.
Aruna took the opening set 11-7, but the Norwegian responded with a dominant 11-3 win in the second. The match turned into a thrilling back-and-forth encounter, with Aruna winning the third set 11-8, Haug levelling again in the fourth, and the Nigerian regaining the edge 11-7 in the fifth.
The decisive sixth set was the match’s climax. Aruna led 9-7, but Haug rallied to level at 9-9. Aruna edged ahead 10-9, but the Norwegian equalised once more.
Drawing on his vast experience, Aruna held firm to claim the next two points, sealing the set 12-10 and the match 4-2 to become the last African male standing in the singles draw after Egypt’s Omar Assar narrowly lost to Portugal’s Marcos Freitas in a tight 4-3 battle (11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 3-11, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12), to bow out in the second round.
His next opponent is Germany’s Benedikt Duda, a familiar face on the professional circuit, as he continues his charge towards a historic podium finish in Doha.
In the women’s singles, African champion Hana Goda delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi to reach the third round.
The 16-year-old, who exited in the second round in Durban in 2023, dropped the first set 9-11 but responded with four consecutive wins (11-4, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7) to wrap up the match in style.
Aside from a brief slip in the fourth set, where she trailed twice, Goda dominated proceedings with precision shot selection and tactical variety that overwhelmed her South American opponent.
Her next challenge, however, is a daunting one — a third-round clash against tournament fourth seed Wang Yidi of China.
Goda is now the only African woman remaining in the singles event, after Madagascar’s Hanitra Raharimanana fell to Germany’s Sabine Winter in straight sets (11-2, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4) earlier in the day.
In the Mixed Doubles event, Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo and Kabirat Ayoola exited in the second round following defeat to their South Korean opponents. However, there was success for Egypt’s Youssef Abdelaziz and Mariam Alhodaby, who progressed to the third round after a 3-1 victory over their Italian counterparts.
Sports
Team Panamai Wins 5th Millenium Taekwondo Plus Club Competition
Former Nigerian Taekwondo athletes have called for more synergy between the government and corporate bodies to raise the standard of the sport in the country
Mukaila Aramide , Koffi Anani , Joseph Golu and Ferguson Oluigbo all agreed that the future is bright for the sport but is challenged by some basic needs to push taekwondo to the top
They said this at the one day Millenium Taekwondo plus club competition held at the basketball courts of the National stadium surulere Lagos were over 100 children from different clubs across Lagos State comperd for honours in poomsea and kyuorgi
They said Nigeria has the talent who are hungry for success at the biggest stage but lack the necessary requirement to take them there
The synergy between the public and private sector will help accelerate the growth of Taekwondo in Nigeria through regular tournaments, trainings, good welfare packages and accessibility to world standard facilities which are pre-requsits to becoming world champions
The age grade championship organised yearly by grand master mukaila Aramide availed the athletes a platform to showcase their skills and develop their knowledge on the sport tney have passion for
Organised of the championship, Mukaila Aramide, says it’s his own contribution towards the growth of the sport in the country
” The Millenium Taekwondo plus club competition is to put smiles on the faces of the children, given them a platform to display what they have learnt from their coaches. Without competitons it will be difficult to access how well the athletes have mastered the sport.
We need more support from the corporate world to be able to take Taekwondo to greater heights in the country, the future is bright for the sport as the talents are abound” He said
Team Panamai were crowned the overall champions with 10 gold , 10 silver and 4 bronze medals
Winners got medals, and educational materials for their efforts
This year’s edition was the 5th installment
Sports
Alake Of Egbaland Birthday Table Tennis Championship Concludes With Splendor At Ikoyi Club 1938
The third edition of the prestigious Alake of Egbaland Birthday Table Tennis Championship culminated on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the revered Ikoyi Club 1938, drawing royalty, dignitaries, industrial leaders, and table tennis aficionados.
The weeklong tournament, served off on Monday, October 6, celebrated the birthday of His Royal Majesty Oba Adedokun Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland
OBA Oluwambe Reuben Sogaolu (Olu of Orile-Imo) and OBA Prof. Saka Adelola (Olowu of Owu) showcased skills in royal exhibition matches.
Chief Taiwo Adeoluwa faced off against
former Ogun State Governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel, in an exhibition game.
Chief Taiwo Adeoluwa: Organized the tournament to honor the Alake’s contributions to Egbaland’s development and his patronage of Ikoyi Club 1938.
Chairman ikoyi ub 1938, Akinwumi Akintola represented by Vice Chairman Bolaji Martins Lauded the sponsor for backing the annual championship.
Chairman table tennis section of the club Folunsho Ajilore Described the event as a celebration of the Alake’s legacy, leadership, and service, highlighting his impactful reign.
In results of games, Men’s Singles Tunde Badare defeated opponent 4-2 (11-6, 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-5).
In the Women’s Singles, Chinwe Igwe won 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-8) against Ayinwade Banjoko.
Winners in Doubles, Premiership, Championship, Veteran Singles (60+), and Septuagenarian Veteran (70+) categories received trophies and cash prizes.
Men’s/Women’s singles winners got trophies, cash, and iPhones
Director General, National Sports Commission Hon. Bukola Olopade Praised Ikoyi Club’s sports development role.
Birthday Cake Cutting Marked festivities honoring the Alake.
The championship blended sportsmanship, cultural pride, and celebration of the Alake’s esteemed position.
Sports
Ikoyi Club 1938 Rounds Up 87th Anniversary With Colourful Gala Nite
The weeklong 87th anniversary of the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938 came to a close on Sunday, October, 5, 2025 with a colourful Gala nite .
Chairman of the club, Akinwumi Akintola expresses happiness on the hitch free event while noting that the club will continue to strive to maintain it’s leadership position amongst recreational clubs in sub- saharan Africa.
He was also full of praise to the general committee and the anniversary sub- committee for putting up a colourful event while he thanked sponsors that identified with the anniversary celebration.
“It’s a thing of joy that the 87th anniversary was a colourful and eventual one and for the past one week, members and invited guests had a fill of the hospitality which the club is noted for.
I also want to express my appreciation to the anniversary committee for a job well done and to our sponsors for identifying with the club and I hope they’ll still be there for us when we hold the 88th anniversary next year”. He said
According to him, the attendance of the Alaafin of Oyo to the event is a testament that the club is a respectable one and they will continue to sustain the legacy Ikoyi is noted for since it came into existence on September 29, 1938, through the merger of the European Club and the Lagos Golf Club.
Chairman of the anniversary committee who also doubles as the Vice Chairman of the Club, Bolaji Martins noted that the glory for success recorded should go to the entire members of the committee who toiled day and night to ensure they had a seamless event
In his remarks, the Royal father of the day and the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba, Akeem Abimbola Owoade commended the club for the legacies it has built over the years, promising that he’ll not hesitate to attend any event of the club when invited.
He admonished the members to continue with their spirit of friendship and oneness which has made the club record a milestone as the only socio cultural recreation club with eight sections in the country.
The gala nite was spiced up with music, dance, cutting of the anniversary cake, presentation of trophies to tournament winners from the various sections of the club and unveiling of the anniversary mascot known as ‘Ajala’ and raffle draw.
There was also a demonstration by the Karate class of the club
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