By Daniel Akinola

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) yesterday commenced camping at the Babcock University with 35 players in preparation for its forthcoming international competitions.

The players aged between 9 and 19 are undergoing intensive training and are preparing for three international tournaments scheduled to be held in Ghana and Guinea later this month.

The camp is being hosted by Babcock University in Ogun State with the full support of the institution’s management, led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Afolarin Ojewole.

The camp is being supervised by Coach Dotun Omoniyi alongside four other coaches, with 18 girls and 17 boys preparing for the Africa Hopes Week and Challenge, the West African Regional Championships, and the African Youth Championships.

Impressed by the players’ skills and conduct, Prof. Ojewole said the camp aligns with the university’s vision of developing well-rounded students.

“Babcock University is always committed to training the heart, the head, and the hands. We believe in the holistic development of an individual, and in training the heart, skills are included.

Sports play a vital role because physical fitness enhances academic performance and enables students to experience all that God has for them. For us, sports are an essential part of training the mind, shaping the heart, and developing future leaders.

The President of the NTTF, Adesoji Tayo, said the camp would not be a one-off initiative, revealing that there is a mutual understanding between the federation and Babcock University to make the institution a permanent training base for Nigeria’s national table tennis teams.

“If you look around, you will see how beautiful this campus is. It is away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, making it an ideal environment where these children can stay focused on table tennis. Babcock is a wonderful place for them, and I’m grateful to the Vice Chancellor for allowing them to use the campus,” Tayo said.