ASABA – The National Youth Games held in Asaba, Delta state, came to an end on Saturday, but the trio of Mustapha and Mubarak Balogun brothers alongside Joyce Mary Owolabi have given respite to Team Ogun outing as the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) extended invitation to the national team.
The trio are also among the selected 16 players across Nigeria to participate in the Musa Atanda invitational slated later this year.
This feat was attributed to their heroics at the just concluded National Youth Games in Asaba.
The Balogun brothers pulled off stunning comebacks during Table Tennis encounter last week, overturning Abuja 2-0 down to 3-2.
In a closely contested match, the Ogun team’s two brothers, Mubarak and Mustapha Balogun, showed determination and skill, overcoming the Rivers State team despite a strong scare.
Team Rivers’ Rabiu Adams and Godwin Sirawoo put up a fierce challenge in the quarter-finals encounter beating Team Ogun 11-7, 11-9 in two straight sets before the break.
The Team Ogun Balogun brothers resumed the third set with a clear-cut pattern to put off the threat of the Rivers Team.
It was an easy ride the Balogun brothers of men’s double semi-finals with a comfortable 3-1 result before they were stopped by the Osun players in the final.
These heroic performances at the National Youth Games stood out the Balogun brothers and Joyce Mary Owolabi who won 1 silver, 1 bronze in the girl’s category to earn their call up to the national team and positioned them as the next Table Tennis stars in Nigeria.
The Team Ogun Table Tennis won 4 silver and 1 bronze won 2 silver and 1 bronze medal at the National Youth Games.
Team Ogun finished 12th on the table log with 33 overall medals amassing 4 gold, 10 silver, 19 bronze.
Team Lagos emerged champions of the 9th National Youth Games with 110 overall medals amassing 52 gold, 32 silver, 26 bronze.
Host Delta State came second with 114 medals; 37 gold, 38 silver and 39 bronze. Edo, Bayelsa and Kwara came 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively.
The National Youth Games is a premier sporting event that brings together young athletes from across the country to compete in various sports disciplines.
The event aims to promote sports development and talent identification in Nigeria.
