Table tennis player slumps, dies during training

A Kwara State table tennis player, Timothy Abiara, on Thursday in Ilorin slumped and died while training at the table tennis hall of the State Stadium Complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the player represented the state at both the 2011 and 2012 editions of the National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt and Lagos.

Abiara died during a game with another player, when he suddenly held his chest and started shouting, with those watching the game thinking he was reacting to a lost point.

He was confirmed dead at the State General Hospital, where he was rushed to.

NAN recalls that late Abiara, who hails from Ogbomoso in Oyo State, was a fashion designer by profession and was aged 45.

He was survived by a wife and four children.

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The State Commissioner for Sports, Kale Ayo, described the situation as pathetic, even as he commiserated with the family of the deceased.

The State Director of Sports, Tunde Kazeem, who also confirmed the athlete’s death, described it as a sad and unfortunate situation.

Kazeem however charged other athletes to always embark on regular medical check-ups.