by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF-Africa Press Officer

Notably Seun Ajetunmobi competed last year in the 2017 ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open, having been a valued member of the national team at the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville.

Signed by Idaye Anthony, the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, a statement was issued explaining that the news of the passing of the 33 year old promising star, who on Wednesday 9th May was crowned the Men’s Singles champion at the annual Aso Championships held in Abuja, came as a great shock.

“On behalf of the President, the Executive Board members and the entire table tennis family in Nigeria, I regret to announce the sudden death of one of our National Team players, Seun Ajetunmobi. The sad event occurred early morning of 1st 2018, in a Lagos hospital. The Italy based athlete was on holiday in Nigeria after the end of the season in Italy. The Federation sympathises with the player’s family and his supporters in Nigeria and around the world. The burial will be announced later by his family.” Idaye Anthony

Prior to moving to Italy, Seun Ajetunmobi had played in Portugal and was at a time, unbeaten for several years in Nigeria.

The International Table Tennis Federation extends condolences to the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation and to the family and friends of the late Seun Ajetunmobi.