The Roads to Glory Begin: FISU Trials Serve Up Excitement in Jos

The much-anticipated FISU Trials officially kicked off today, April 8th, 2025, in the vibrant city of Jos.

Hosted by the University of Jos, the opening day began with a flurry of activity at the Rwang Pam Stadium as Table Tennis took center stage.

The atmosphere was electric as student-athletes from various universities across the nation battled it out in a round-robin format to stake their claim for national representation.

The men’s singles category saw intense matchups, with standout performances from Boboye Samuel of Benson Idahosa University, who secured two straight wins — first against Blessing Jacob of Niger Delta University (3-0), and then against Nwafor Ozioma of Alex Ekwueme University (3-0). LASU’s Ofufesi Daniel also delivered a dominating performance, dispatching his opponent Omolola Abdulaziz (Dutsenmai) 11-1, 11-2, 11-4.

Other notable victories included Prosper Obasuyi of UniBen, who edged out Abdulbasit Yusuf of UniAbuja in straight sets, and Mohammed Ajape of UniMaid who battled hard to claim a 3-2 win over FUTA’s Afolabi Timothy in one of the day’s most thrilling five-setters.

On the women’s side, LASU’s dominance was on display with Jimoh Rufiath and Zainab Surmer both picking up solid wins. Goodness Usang of UniCal was another player who shone brightly, securing a convincing 3-0 win before falling to Hope Udoka of BIU in a tough second matchup.

The energy in the venue was contagious, with cheers echoing throughout the stadium as players showed both finesse and fire. W/O (walkover) victories were also recorded for Abdul Qudus (KASU) and Farouk Hussain (Alhikima), who advanced without lifting a paddle due to opponent forfeits.

As the Table Tennis action continues tomorrow, the Athletics and Taekwondo events are set to begin as well. The Athletics Day One schedule includes the Shotput, Discus, and Javelin events for both men and women. Meanwhile, Taekwondo athletes undergo official weighing today ahead of competitive bouts starting on the 9th in various categories — from Fin to Heavyweight divisions.

With more action to unfold, the 2025 FISU Trials in Jos are already living up to expectations, promising a week full of fierce competition, sportsmanship, and dreams in the making.