Kwara Breaks 39-Year Table Tennis Drought at Gateway Games 2024 – Mogaji Rejoices

 Kwara Breaks 39-Year Table Tennis Drought at Gateway Games 2024 – Mogaji Rejoices



The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, has expressed heartfelt joy as Kwara State shattered long-standing records at the ongoing Gateway Games 2024, the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival taking place in Ogun State.


A visibly elated Mogaji recalled that Kwara had not reached the final of the men’s table tennis singles event since 1985, when legends Bolaji Niniola and Sule Olaleye made their mark. That 39-year wait has now ended, thanks to the stellar performance of Abdulfatai Basit, who powered his way into the final in this year’s edition.


> “As the Executive Chairman today, I am happier than ever,” Mogaji said. “This is a proud moment not just for me, but for the entire state. Abdulfatai Basit has made history, and so has our female star, Shukurat Aiyelabegan, who reached the final in the women’s singles. Both athletes earned silver, and we are incredibly proud of their achievement.”


Mogaji also celebrated another historic breakthrough—Kwara United Football Club’s qualification for the President Federation Cup final (formerly known as the Challenge Cup), marking the team’s first appearance in the final since the tournament began in 1949. The Harmony Boys booked their spot with a nail-biting 1-0 victory over Rangers International in Lagos.


On the festival football front, Team Kwara’s return to the final for the first time since 2012 further added to the historic momentum sweeping through the state’s sporting sector.


The Chairman noted that Kwara has already surpassed its gold medal tally from the last National Sports Festival, Delta 2021, where the state won four gold medals. With the medal count still climbing, Kwara's athletes continue to break new ground.


 “We’ve already exceeded our performance from Delta 2021, and we’re not done yet. Every day, our athletes are stepping up and making the state proud,” Mogaji said.


The state also dominated in squash, emerging as the best overall team in the female category. Kwara produced the Best Female Squash Player of Gateway 2024—Abdulazeez Rofiat—a testament to the depth and discipline of the team’s training programme


 “Gateway Games 2024 has truly been a festival of records for Kwara,” Mogaji concluded. “From table tennis to squash and football, we are rewriting history across multiple sports. With the support of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the commitment of our athletes and coaches, the future of sports in Kwara has never looked brighter.”

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