Sports
ORGANISERS of the third edition of the Dr. A.A. Efunkoya National Junior Table Tennis Championships on Thursday said the championship would help unearth talents.
A statement signed by the organizers announced that the three-day event would begin on Thursday and end on Saturday at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos
According to the organisers, athletes from across the country arrived on Wednesday to compete at the tournament which has helped to unearth talents for the national junior teams.
“The championship is being organised by the Dr. A.A. Efunkoya Foundation with the aim of unearthing talents for the country.
“The yearly contest has been in line with the ideals of the late Efunkoya, whose era as the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) unearthed stars for the country.
“Efunkoya’s strong emphasis on the need for young table tennis players to also focus on their education has inspired them to provide an educational scholarship for each of the winners in the boys’ and girls’ singles categories.
“There are strong indications that more players would be part of the tournament following the exceptional performance of the boys’ singles like Matthew Kuti at the 2022 African Youth Championships in Tunis.
NAN reports that the athlete dazzled the continent with his scintillating skills a the African youth event.
The organisers also stated that accommodation and feeding would be provided for most of the participants to encourage more players to be part of the tournament.
NAN gathered that five titles would be at stake mainly in singles (boys and girls), doubles (boys and girls) and mixed doubles events.
The annual event is being bankrolled by former players and table tennis enthusiasts within and outside the country.
The late Efunkoya was a surgeon and medical practitioner, who became involved in the administration of table tennis in 1962 and was elected the Chairman of the then Nigeria Table Tennis Association in 1963. (NAN)
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Tags: A.A. Efunkoya Efunkoya National Junior Table Tennis Championships Matthew Kuti
