With LASU men’s Table Tennis player, Rilwan Akanbi, beating a tough North african opponent from American University, Cairo, Egypt in the final of the Table Tennis singles male, the Nigerian ping pong player is now the African reigning Champion for All African Universities.
The feat was achieved on Thursday, 9th June, 2022 at the ongoing 10th All Africa University Games.
Rilwan won in three straight sets of 11-8, 11-6 and 13-11 to beat the hard fighting Egyptian to the Gold Medal.
Moments after the great feat, the Leader of Delegation, TEAM LASU to the games, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Elias Wahab, who was highly elated, shared the moment of joy with CIPPR.
” I must say we are overjoyed. Everybody here is happy. We thank God as the Vice Chancellor has supported us all the way to this competition and we are making LASU proud. As I speak to you, LASU just defeated almighty Egypt, that defeated LASU earlier at the doubles as well as team events. As I speak to you, LASU is the reigning African Champion in Singles Male Table Tennis”, the Deputy Vice Chancellor began.
Speaking further, with so much joy, Prof. Wahab said the African Champion Rilwan earlier defeated another, Egyptian, Mahmood Abdullah in the Semi- Final, 3-2 ( 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9&11-9) to romp into the Final and face another Egyptian.
He added that, the determined LASU player, with focus on the gold medal, gave a good account of himself playing the strong Egyptian in the final, who he put to the table by defeating in three straight sets of 11-8, 11-6 and 13-11.
The victory, he noted sent the venue into ecstacy as the LASU contingent went into wild celebration, with other countries like Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and more joining. These are countries the Egyptians already sent packing by defeating them, he added.
“When we were leaving Nigeria, I recall we said we were going to win gold, God has done it for us. We have silver and bronze medals. The players would have done better, but, due to armstring injuries and muscle pull. The injuries affected their semi final games. Some of the players could not take part in their semi final matches, especially, the Badminton players. In all, we give God the glory”, Prof. Wahab exclaimed.
As he rounded off, Prof. Wahab posited that LASU became a beautiful bride as the countries the Egyptians defeated on the road to the final shifted their support to the Nigerian side as a sign of solidarity.
With the gold and other medals, TEAM LASU is already on the medals table. The games will end on Friday, 10th June, 2022.
