SPORTS FESTIVAL: ANIEKAN BASSEY RETAINS TABLE TENNIS GOLD FOR IKOT EKPENE, BEATS BROTHER IN FINAL AS URUAN SETTLES FOR SILVER

SPORTS FESTIVAL: ANIEKAN BASSEY RETAINS TABLE TENNIS GOLD FOR IKOT EKPENE, BEATS BROTHER IN FINAL AS URUAN SETTLES FOR SILVER

Mfon Patrick

Aniekan Bassey has successfully defended his men’s singles table tennis gold medal for Ikot Ekpene at the 2026 Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival, defeating his elder brother, Wisdom Bassey, 3–1 in an all-family final.

The final, played at the Patience (Kemi) Umo Eno Hall of the NUJ Press Centre, Uyo, on Wednesday, saw the two brothers battle for the gold medal after securing victories in their respective semi-final matches.

While Wisdom, the elder of the two brothers, competed for his local government of origin, Uruan, Aniekan opted to represent Ikot Ekpene, the same local government he represented at last year’s festival, where he won the men’s singles gold medal.

Aniekan maintained his dominance in the final, winning 11–9, 11–9, 5–11, 11–7 to retain his title and secure back-to-back gold medals for Ikot Ekpene in the men’s singles table tennis event, while Wisdom settled for silver for Uruan.

Promise Okon of Etinan and Ubong Atata of Onna shared the bronze medals after finishing joint third.

In the women’s singles final, Edidiong Emmanuel of Itu defeated Goodness Atata of Onna 3–0 to claim the gold medal. Esther Godswill of Mkpat Enin and Esther Noah of Ikot Ekpene finished joint third and received the bronze medals.