GERMAN TABLE TENNIS ASSOCIATION THROWS SUPPORT FOR FORMER AFRICA CHAMPION TO DEVELOP TABLE TENNIS SPORTS IN NIGERIA
The German Table Tennis Federation is collaborating with former African Junior Table Tennis Champion,Adedapo Akiode to raise the tempo of the Table Tennis tournament in Nigeria.
Akiode who brought the name of Nigeria into table tennis limelight in the All Africa Junior Table Tennis Championship held in South Africa in 1997 made this known at a press conference on Tuesday in Abeokuta.
The former champion who spoke in preparation for the 1st Late Anthonia Akiode Memorial Cadet and Junior Closed Table Tennis Championship,said the federation was the major sponsor for the tournament.
He said, the three day tournament which covers 17-19 October was aimed to discover more talents at the grassroot level in the interest of Nigeria table tennis sport.
Akiode who is based in Germany as a professional table tennis player, explained that his passion for the game, was motivating factor for him, to contribute his quota to the development of the game, back home.
‘I can conveniently tell you that, German Table Tennis Federation is one of our strong sponsor, and has packaged number of incentives to encourage the championship’,Akiode emphasised
On the three day tournament,he said 80 players would participate in the categories which include U-14 and U18,adding that the players were been drawn from all the local government of Ogun State.
Addressing Sports Writers at the secretariat of the association located in Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta,said the championship is scheduled to take place at Alake Sports Centre, Abeokuta.
Akiode who won 2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze for Nigeria at the All Africa Junior Table Tennis Championship, also disclosed that,he has open a website for the the foundation, www.hsf-ng.org
