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Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Offiong Edem Foundation, Offiong Edem, a table tennis star, has unveiled plans to host a mini-table tennis tournament for children between ages seven and 15 from five states.
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The states, Abia, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross River, will feature in the tournament scheduled to hold at the U.J Esuene Stadium from June 3 to 7, 2023.
Explaining the decision to hold the event during a telephone conversation from her base in Italy, yesterday, the Cross River-born international star said, “I don’t want table tennis to die with me in Cross River State and that is why I decided to use this opportunity to host a Tennis tournament to groom young stars.
“I am also inviting neighbouring states to participate in this year’s event, which is open to all children between seven and 15 years. This will be great opportunity for the kids to showcase their table tennis skills.”
Edem, who has qualified for the finals of the European Table Tennis Cup, is currently playing in Qratro Mori Tennis Tavolo in Sardinia, Italy.
On her preparedness for the finals of the European Cup, Edem said she would pair with Romania’s top ranked players, Tania Plaina and Adreea Dragoman, in 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 April 2, 2023,” Edem said.
She disclosed that after European championship, she will return to Nigeria to organise tournaments for different categories of Cross River young stars.
“It is true that I am planning to come home to organise the yearly Offiong Edem table tennis tournaments,” she said, adding, “prizes, table tennis equipment and empowerment would be given out to young budding stars. .The tournaments are aimed at discovering new talents and encourage older ones.”
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