Foundation unveils 6th table tennis tournament in C’River

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The Offiong Edem Foundation has unveiled plans for the 6th edition of its annual Table Tennis Tournament to be hosted in Calabar, Cross River State.

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The foundation also announced an expanded four-category format and a total prize money of N3 million.

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Edem, who is based in the United States where she works as a coach, said the tournament is aimed at discovering and supporting young talents who lack access to quality equipment and facilities.

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Speaking on Wednesday in Calabar, the five-time Olympian said an additional category was created after she observed a large turnout of young players.

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She said, “Initially I had three categories, but when I arrived and saw a lot of young people, like about seven to eight years, I decided to include Under 11 years.

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So right now it’s going to be 4 categories. We’re having Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, and Youth Open.”

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As part of the 6th edition, Edem distributed rackets and other playing equipment to young athletes, adults, and coaches, saying that it is a way to encourage their aspirations.

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“I gifted more than 50 persons kits. I also gave some adults and coaches. The equipment is expensive. This is a way of supporting young talents who lack access to quality equipment and facilities”, Edem said.

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Edem, a former national champion, said her passion stems from her own struggles growing up as a player in Nigeria, stressing that she had noted significant improvement among the players compared to last year and called for government intervention.

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“I am just trying to build more Offiong Edems, because I started from here. I knew how it was then to buy equipment. It was very expensive. So I just don’t want the game to end with me.

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“If these young people can play in this kind of environment, and they are playing so well; if the government should try to push, do a little bit, I think they will go far. This is the only thing I do. This is how I’m sustaining them,” she said.

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She further disclosed plans to personally sponsor three outstanding players to national tournaments twice a year to give them more exposure, adding that for this year’s edition, the foundation has increased prize money by 15 per cent to a total of N3 million, to be shared across the four categories.

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