LSTTA Kicks Off Trials for Eko 2026 National Intermediate Games
The Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) has commenced preparations for the maiden National Intermediate Games, Eko 2026, with trials scheduled to select athletes who will represent the state in the table tennis event.
The one-day trial will hold at Ikoyi Club 1938 on Saturday, August 29, as Lagos begins its bid to assemble a strong team for the multi-sport competition scheduled to take place from October 1 to 15.
LSTTA Chairman, Tunji Lawal, said the association is determined to ensure that only the best athletes are selected to represent Lagos.
‘We want to ensure that we assemble a strong team that can battle against any team in the country,’ Lawal said.
He added that the selection process would remain competitive until the final squad is confirmed, with preparations and training running alongside the trials.
‘No player should feel indispensable. Only the best will earn the right to represent Lagos. Lagos is known for excellence, and we cannot go below this standard in our approach to the first National Intermediate Games,’ he added.
Fourteen athletes, comprising seven boys and seven girls, will take part in the exercise. The girls’ category includes Aishat Rabiu, Ifeoluwa Ajasa, Faisat Musbau, Rianat Olanrewaju, Taiwo Akanbi, Halimat Rasheed and Hayisat Zakariah.
African U-19 champion Matthew Kuti headlines the boys’ category, alongside Quadri Atunwon, Tobi Adebakin, Usman Ayoola, Ahmed Ayatulahi, Adeoye Hussein and Adesanya Sodiq.
The trials come as LSTTA continues to deepen its youth development programme. At the association’s monthly cadet tournament held at Lagos Country Club, Umar Ayoola and Aminat Lawal emerged champions in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively.
Eko 2026 is expected to bring together more than 15,000 athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 from across Nigeria, providing a platform for emerging talents to compete and progress towards elite national, continental and international competitions.
