Table Tennis Championship – The Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) Representative of south south zone Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade, has said that in the entire south south states, Cross River is the only state with a hall that’s designated for only table tennis.
Ebikpolade, stated this in an interview with the journalists shortly after he donated Table Tennis equipment worth millions of naira to the UJ Esuene stadium’s table tennis hall in Calabar.
This he did in support of the just concluded two days mini tournament 0.4 of Offiong Edem Foundation held at the Calabar stadium’s table tennis hall.
Ebikpolade who also is the Chairman Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association (BSTTA) said during his tour he had realized that in the entire south south states, Cross River is the only state with a hall that’s designated for only table tennis.
Therefore, “As an adult, I want to use my small grace to push the game of table tennis forward.”
However, “I have donated ITTF approved dispatch, 2 star American 16 tournament table and new floor,” said Ebikpolade.
“I do this because it’s easy to show love to the people of Calabar,” according to the BSTTA chairman.
Moreover, “I just want to encourage them that they are number one in the south south in the table tennis.”
While answering questions from the journalists about his humble beginning, the table tennis star said for him he pick up table tennis talent when he was growing up.
“During my tour I realized that in the entire south south states this is the only hall that’s designated for only table tennis.”
On that note, “I want to commend Offiong Edem whom we normally call “mma ba” she has done well by using her time to engage the youth.” Ebikpolade told the newsmen.
The table tennis star added that he realized that table tennis is one thing they need to educate the children.
And so “all these engagements is to bring out youths from streets take them in and give them the talent of table tennis and send them back to school,” He concluded.
Offong Edem foundation, mini-tournament 0.4 was held on Friday 5, and Saturday July 6, 2024. at table tennis Hall, UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar.
The 2 days event had participants between the ages of 8-17 years, from Bayelsa, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Cross River States.
Also, the ceremony featured speeches from sports enthusiasts, exhibition matches, under 13, ,14 and 17 boys and girls single matches.
Other activities include Offiong Edem coaching clinic for under 14 boys and girls, exhibition matches with para table tennis players, presentation of prizes, where U-14 girl Miss Chineye Okafor from Abia won Gold medal.
Miss Onakpoberua Ese from Delta won Silver, Peace Rapu from Delta won Bronze and followed by Princess Ekuromune from Bayelsa who also won Bronze medal.
In the U-24 boys category Clinton Ogbomudia from Bayelsa went home with Gold medal, closely followed by Iwobi Rex from Delta carted home Silver medal, while David Uche from Abia and Shalomi Ihianacho from Akwa Ibom won Bronze medals each.
Meanwhile, in the U-17 boys category Mathew John from Bayelsa took home Gold medal, Bright Joel from Cross River won Silver medal, AbleGod Udoh, from Akwa Ibom and Victor Kemele won Bronze medals each.
For instance, Offiong Edem Foundation is a registered sports foundation with the aims of promoting the game of table tennis mitigate youth restiveness and take the youths off the street through sports.
Offiong Edem is a professional table tennis player from Nigeria, a member of Nigeria women table tennis team in Olympic games 4 times, including the Tokyo Olympics games.
Also, she has won Bronze medal at commonwealth games in Manchester UK in 2024.