Andy Esiet, Calabar
Offiong Edem
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Offiong Edem Foundation a Professional Table Tennis Star and legend has promised to host a Mini-Table Tennis Tournament for Children between the ages 7–15 drawn from five states.
The states are Abia, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Cross River and the tournament will hold at the U.J Esuene Stadium from June 3 to 7, 2023.
According to the Cross River-born international Table Tenis champion, “I do not want Table Tennis to die with me in Cross River State and that is why I decided to use this opportunity to host a Mini-Table Tennis Tournament in order to groom Young Star.
“I am also inviting other neighbouring states to participate in this year event and is open to all children between 7-15 years, this will be great opportunity for the kids to showcase their Table Tennis Skills”
Edem who qualified for the finals of the European Table Tennis Cup is currently playing in Qratro Mori Tennis Tavolo in Sardinia, Italy
She spoke with some newsmen on Wednesday during a telephone interview on the state of her preparedness for the finals saying, she would pair with Romanian top ranked players, Tania Plaina and Adreea Dragoman during the finals.
“We will be playing against the Hungarian team. They belong to Budaorsi Hungary.
We defeated them 3-2 in the first leg home matches: that was on the 2nd of April 2023″, Edem said.
Before berthing in the finals, Edem’s team had defeated the Italian team in quarter finals 3-1. They had also defeated the French team in the semifinals 3-1.
Edem disclosed that after the continental Table Tennis championship, she will return to Nigeria to organize Tournaments for different categories of Cross River young Table Tennis stars.
“It is true that I am planning to come home to organize the annual Offiong Edem Table Tennis tournaments” , she said adding that “Prizes, Tennis equipment and empowerment would be given out to the young budding stars as the tournaments will aim at discovering new talents and encourage older ones.”
