The 2024 WTT Contender Lagos reached its thrilling conclusion on the final day, with champions crowned in four categories: Women’s Singles, Men’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Men’s Doubles.
The Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium hosted the mouth watering matches.
In the Men’s Singles final, German rivals Ovtcharov and Ricardo Walther clashed in an intense battle. Ovtcharov, a seasoned competitor and 2023 finalist, overcame his opponent 4-1 (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6), securing his second WTT Series singles title.
Despite feeling unwell before the match, Ovtcharov credited the exceptional fan support for his victory.
“Winning in Lagos is special, and it’s a big moment for me, just like winning in Germany and Russia, where I’ve always felt welcomed,” he said.
In the Women’s Singles final, India’s Akula faced off against China’s Ding Yijie in their first WTT Series singles final appearance. Akula emerged victorious with a 4-1 win (10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6), adding to her growing legacy after her Women’s Doubles win.
The event featured a total of 32 players in the Men’s and Women’s Singles draws, 16 pairs in the Men’s and Women’s Doubles draws, and 16 pairs in the Mixed Doubles draw, all competing for a share of the $80,000 prize pool and ITTF World Ranking points.