Kwara state table tennis player, Hussein Faruq told newsmen that he is happy to win the state first gold medal at the 2023 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta state.

The duo of Fatimoh Ahmed and Hussein Faruq defeated Rehanat Olarewaju and J Marvellous 3- 0 (11-2, 11-9, 11-5) in the mixed doubles Table Tennis played at the indoor sports hall.

Faruq said his coach, Kehinde Aiyelabegan has been training him and his teammate, Fatimoh Ahmed for the past three years.

He hailed the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for providing funds for the state athletes and the Executive Chairman of Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Magaji for creating an enabling environment for sports to thrive.

He said, I am happy becoming the first athlete to win gold for Kwara State at the 7th National Sports Festival in Asaba. Coach Kehinde Aiyelabegan prepared the team hard for the National Youth Games, we did a lot of training in Ilorin.

“I want to use this medium to thank Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazq for giving us money to attend the National Youth Games and the Executive Chairman for ensuring the welfare of the athletes come first”.

The student of Ansarudeen Secondary School told newsmen that he started playing table tennis at the age of 10 years.

He said, “I started playing Table Tennis at the age of 10 years old and Shukurat Aiyelabegan introduced me to the sport. I always see how see her videos and I became interested”.

Hussein implored their colleagues not to rest on their oars in clinching more medals for the state as the games continue for another five days.

Meanwhile, the coach of Kwara state table tennis team, Kehinde Aiyelabegan rigorous training at the open and close camps preceding the youth games in the state paved way for their success in the event.