The fifth OPay Cup China-Nigeria Table Tennis Tournament concluded in Abuja on Sunday after two days of competition involving players from Chinese companies operating in Nigeria and the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria.

The tournament, held from Aug. 29 to 30, was organised by the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria (CGCCN) and featured men’s and women’s singles, a team competition and men’s doubles.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, said table tennis has long been one of China’s most popular sports.

Yang said the tournament came as China and Nigeria marked 55 years of diplomatic relations, and described Chinese companies and institutions operating in Nigeria as participants in efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries.

He encouraged players to use the competition as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges while demonstrating their skills and sporting spirit.

In the men’s singles, Segun Yunusa Adesanya of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) won the title, while his colleague Kelvin Ahametula finished second.

Yang Yuan of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) won the women’s singles title, with Nie Xiaohua of China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) finishing second. Wu Tianxia of Mutual Commitment Company took third place.

CHEC won the team competition, with CCECC finishing second and CGC third.

In the men’s doubles, CCECC’s Segun Yunusa Adesanya and Lu Jinwei won the title. Wang Xiang and Guo Hanqin of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria finished second, while CHEC’s Lin Maomin and Yang Hang placed third.

Trophies, medals and cash prizes were presented to the winners at the end of the tournament.

Organisers said the event was intended to encourage sporting and social exchanges among Chinese companies and institutions operating in Nigeria.