BY: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
Over fourteen winners emerged at the end of the third edition of the Cross River State Table Association in collaboration with Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) held at the U.J.Esuene Stadium.
The 2-day highly competitive challenge saw young up coming stars in the area of Table tennis in the state if they are properly put together as a team.
The challenge event was part of efforts and program by the association to curb youths restiveness in Calabar Municipal Council and its environs.
The winners include Bright Joel ,Akabom Ekpo, and Victor Sunday for the “Elite Men Single.”
Others are Hope Udoaka and Vivian Ekpeyong for the “Elite Women single”.
For the “Cadet singles” were Daniel Ekok, Samuel Eze and Victor Daniel.”
“Cadet girls category” saw Esther Ekok, Ela Ogabu and Precious Edem participating while the “Boys Single” had Victor Edem, Jim Victory and Sylvanus Irukwu emerged victorious.
Speaking to Journalists after the Tournament , the Vice Chairman of Cross River Table Tennis Association, Bishop Usen Umoh said Cross River State is lucky to have produced Table Tennis Champion like Offiong Edem who is now playing professional in Italy.
Umoh who is also the Vice Chairman Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria, said “Offiong was coached here and was four times Olympic Champion, 6 times African Champion, and No.1 in Nigeria.
He commended the Nigeria Union of journalists for collaborating with the association which saw the huge success of the event.
The highlight of the event was the participation of media practitioners during the event to add colour to the program.
On his part, Michael Asim Ita one of the sponsors commended the Association for the growth of table Tennis and having produced National and International stars for the Country.
According to him, the objective- is to popularize the game and toencourage everyone to play table tennis for physical well being andto encourage sports loving individuals/members of the organised private sector to invest in sports as part of their corporate social responsibility-CSR.
“We are trying to contribute our quota in other to curb youth restiveness and reduce unemployment in the state and country at large”.
“The Calabar Table Tennis Challenge is sponsored by the table tennis family in Cross River State in partnership with SWAN”.
Also in his remarks, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of journalists, Comrade Nsa Gill, lauded the organisers of the event.
He called on the private sector to tap richly on the Federal government policy on sports development in wherever they are operating. The policy is very lucrative, he noted.
The NUJ chairman assured the association of total support and collaboration at all times and made a donation of ten thousand Naira on behalf of the Union to support the event.
Also speaking, the interim chairman of SWAN, Cross River State, Comrade Patrick Abang, had lauded the effort of the leadership of the association for thinking it wise to collaborate with Sports Writers Association of Nigeria.
“SWAN, is ready if you are ready to expose and encourage young upcoming youths in Cross River State, he added “.
At the end of the event, over a hundred and fifty thousand were splashed to the winner’s as part of end of year gift.
