Wave-making table tennis player Kuti targets historic title defence
Nigeria’s leading table tennis player, Matthew Kuti, said he is aiming to make history at the ITTF West Africa Regional Championship in Lagos.
Mr Kuti hopes to become the first male player to win back-to-back singles titles in the tournament’s history.
He disclosed this during an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing championship in Lagos.
Mr Kuti stated, “I will defend the men’s singles title. I won it last year in Lomé, defeating Côte d’Ivoire’s Oba Oba Kizito 4-1. My goal is to retain the title and maintain Nigeria’s dominance in the region. I am confident and ready to give my best effort. I will use this platform to test myself against West Africa’s finest. My focus is on performance and securing Nigeria’s spot at the African Championships.’’
Nigeria’s men’s team, captained by Kuti, dominated the final, defeating Côte d’Ivoire 3-0 to win the team event.
The tournament also features top teams from Nigeria, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and others vying for qualification to the 2025 African Championships in Kigali, Rwanda.
The singles competition continues on Friday, with high-stakes encounters expected. The men’s and women’s finals will be played on Saturday.
(NAN)
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