By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Chineye Okafor of Abia State has won the 2023 under 13 Girls Offiong Edem Mini Tournament beating her Cross River counterpart, Esther Ekok with three set to two in the final played at U.J.Esuene Stadium Calabar South South Nigeria over the weekend.
Also in the Under 14 boys category, David Uche of Abia State defeated his Cross River State counterpart Daniel Ekok with three straight set to emerged victorious.
In the under 17 girls category, Idoreyin Udoka of Cross River State defeated her rival, Vivian Oku also from Cross River with three set to two to emerged Champion.
Mathew John of Bayelsa State defeated Bright Joel of Cross River State with three set to two in the Under-17 boy’s category .
Offiong Edem is a professional Table Tennis player. She began representing Cross River State and Nigeria in major National and International competition .She has won medals in 5 editions of the National Sports Festival including the Commonwealth
She is an inspirational sports personality and a role model for aspiring young athletes in Nigeria and around the World.
Her Foundation was formed in 2002 to provide table tennis equipment to support young star in Cross River State and beyond.
Nnamdi Uzoewulu, Branch Manager of Zenith Bank, said Cross River State is blessed with table tennis players but regretted that government has neglected the game over the years.
“We are proud of what Offiong Edem Foundation is doing that is why we are supporting her because the game is fast disappearing”
The Chief Coach of Abia State Table Tennis, Ifoma Isaac, said this type of competition will encourage other Champions to support Table Tennis.
“Table Tennis is lacking sponsorship and the zone have been producing Table Tennis champion, Cross River State is the home of Table Tennis”
Five state participated in the 3 day mini tournament. They include Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River State ,Imo and Rivers.
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