CROSS RIVER – The Calabar Table Tennis Challenge served off Friday at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, drawing elite and emerging players into a high-stakes rally anchored on ethics, youth development, and competitive excellence.
The two-day championship, running from December 19 to 20, is hosted by the Cross River State Sports Commission and offers a ₦1 million winner’s prize, alongside several other incentives.
Organisers said the tournament is structured as an open contest aimed at widening participation, sustaining the sport, and creating a clear pipeline from grassroots discovery to elite performance.
Chairman of the organizing committee, John Akintola, said the competition was born out of responsibility to the game and a moral obligation to groom future champions.
“I came here because of the passion for the game and youth development,” Akintola told journalists, stressing that “if you don’t grow people behind you, the game will eventually die.”
He explained that the challenge functions like a relay race, where experienced players deliberately hand over the baton to younger talents to keep the sport alive.
The tournament, now in its third official edition, is staged annually in December to allow athletes and families converge in Calabar during the holiday window.
According to Truthlivenews correspondent in Calabar, the organisers disclosed that the competition has already produced national stars and is countering claims that table tennis is fading in Nigeria.
“This is our way of giving back to society by growing youths and encouraging them,” Akintola said, noting that exposure and opportunity often unlock world-class potential.
He revealed that the championship is funded through voluntary private donations, an approach organisers say preserves transparency and shields the event from political interference.
Based on situation reports, Akintola said athletes from six to seven states were already on ground, though participation was initially projected from at least ten states.
Vice Chairman of the Cross River State Table Tennis Association, Bishop Usen Umoh, described table tennis as a unifying sport capable of engaging both young and old.
Umoh said the association is collaborating with government agencies and private individuals to sustain the sport, identify new talents, and raise standards across the state.
He confirmed that defending champions Hope Udoka and Samuel Boboye are among headline players, setting the tone for what he called top-class competition.
“With players like Hope, Nigeria’s number one female, anything can happen on the table,” Umoh said, predicting possible upsets and thrilling rallies.
The championship features senior singles, cadet singles, and veterans’ events, with total prize money estimated at about ₦1.3 million.
Umoh appealed to corporate organisations and sports-loving individuals to invest in grassroots competitions, arguing that sports development helps redirect youth energy positively.
Defending champion Hope Udoka said retaining her title would demand increased training intensity, discipline, and mental resilience.
“It takes a lot of hard work and dedication,” Udoka said, explaining that elite competition requires longer training hours and personal sacrifices.
She disclosed her ambition to represent Nigeria at the 2028 Olympic Games, admitting that balancing academics with high-performance sport remains challenging.
Samuel Boboye described his rise as a tough but rewarding journey, crediting relentless training and consistent support for his success.
“It’s not easy; you have to train, train, train,” Boboye said, noting that mental strength often separates champions from contenders.
The 21-year-old Bayelsa State captain said his goal is to play professionally and represent Nigeria internationally.
Boboye urged aspiring athletes to remain disciplined, listen to their coaches, and embrace hard work as the surest path to success.
As rallies continue into Saturday, fans are expecting explosive exchanges, tactical brilliance, and a clear glimpse of Nigeria’s next generation of table tennis champions.