Nigeria Table Tennis Federation mourns coach Babatunde Obisanya

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation announced the death of former national coach Babatunde Obisanya, who passed away on October 6 at the age of 77 after a prolonged illness at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Obisanya was a significant figure in Nigerian table tennis, having represented the country as a player before becoming the national coach.

Adesoji Tayo, the federation’s President, praised Obisanya's contributions to the sport, stating that his impact was profound and that he remained active in offering advice even after his retirement in 2010. Obisanya made history in 1968 by becoming the first men’s singles champion of the Asoju Oba Cup and shared the Nigeria Sportsman of The Year award in 1976.

He played for Nigeria in various international competitions and was a prominent player in the 1970s. As head coach from 1976 to 2010, he mentored many notable players, including Segun Toriola, and was an advocate for combining education with youth sports development.