By Isoni Isoni, Calabar
It was excitement galore at the U. J. Esuene Stadium Calabar, Table Tennis Hall over the weekend when about 95 table tennis players drawn from Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom and the host State, Cross River tried each other for size to round off 2024 activities of the Cross River Table Tennis Association.
Two table tennis stars, Samuel Boboye from Bayelsa and Hope Udoaka from Cross River were delight to watch as they held the fans spell-bound with their skills throughout the duration of their final matches.
The two-some carted home ₦50,000 each as prize money.
In other final matches decided at the same venue, Precious Sampson from Cross River emerged the winner in the junior girl’s category while Peace Sampson also from Cross River became the runner-up.
Junior boy’s winner was Nurudeen Solanke from Bayelsa while Promise Okon from Cross River came 2nd.
Other winners included Enare Obasi in cadet girls’ category while Jerry Ebe triumphed in the boys category.
Veteran winner was James Kanu from Cross River while Oyo Ita also from Cross River came 2nd.
In his remarks during the presentation of prizes to those who excelled, the senior special Assistant to Governor Bassey Otu on sports, Lawrence Etta showered praises on the state Table Tennis Association for taking the game to greater heights having produced national and international players for the state and the nation.
While assuring them of the Governor’s plan to take the game of Table Tennis to the next level, the senior special assistant used the occasion to appeal to organisations and multi-nationals to rally round the state government in an effort to give the game the needed boost.
Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the Cross River Table Tennis Association, Bishop Usen Umoh had expressed satisfaction with the standard of game exhibited by the players while the two-day tournament lasted.
He disclosed that the Table Tennis challenge which is the brain-child of the Association has produced a good number of stars who have placed Cross River on International Sports Map.
He thanked the following companies namely champion Breweries, Niger mill, Royal Farms, Asi Ukpo, DANELEC, etc. for being the brain behind their success.