A new generation of table tennis stars emerged over the weekend at the just-concluded Offiong Edem Table Tennis Championship, held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.
The three-day championship brought together 83 young athletes from eight states—Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia, Delta, and others—as well as representatives from the Ultra King Sports Academy, Uyo. The event served as a platform for unearthing new talents in Nigerian table tennis, with teenage players from across the country clinching top honours.
In the Under-13 category, Delta State’s Idoko Ifesinachi won gold in the boys’ event, while Enare Obasi emerged champion in the girls’ category. Abia State’s Elizabeth Emelike triumphed in the Under-15 girls’ competition, with Anambra State’s Ezeafor Gabriel taking the top spot in the boys’ category.
The youth category also produced standout performers, as Chineye Okafor of Abia State won the girls’ gold, while Aniekan Bassey from the Ultra King Sports Academy clinched gold in the boys’ event.
Eighteen other athletes across the six competition categories secured silver and bronze medals, highlighting the depth of emerging talent.
The championship was organised by the Offiong Edem Foundation and sponsored by its CEO, five-time Olympian Offiong Edem, who is currently a coach in the United States. She presented cash prizes and equipment valued at over ₦2.5 million to the winners and participants.
Speaking at the event, Edem emphasized the importance of nurturing young athletes. “I want to keep discovering talent for Nigeria through this annual championship,” she said.
Usen Umoh, Vice Chairman of the Cross River Table Tennis Federation, also highlighted the value of sports in youth development. “Providing facilities and platforms like this is key to taking young people off the streets,” he said.
Talent scout Segun Ajogbeje, who attended the event, expressed his excitement about the quality of players on display. “I’m here to discover and groom the next generation of stars,” he told The Guardian.
The championship marks a promising chapter in grassroots table tennis development in Nigeria, with organizers and stakeholders committed to building on this momentum in the years ahead.
