Over the weekend the maiden edition of the Southeast Open Table Tennis Championship tagged “the eastern challenge” climaxed in a grand style at indoor sports hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium as the Enugu Table Tennis Club (ETTC) have started to set plans in motion in hosting a national table tennis competition towards the end of the year.

This information was gathered at the end of the 3-day event which witnessed competitive and exciting table tennis artistry from players of the five eastern states and some tennis clubs within the zone.

In an exclusive interview with Sports correspondent, Ugo Okeiyi at the end of the 3-day event, Chairman Enugu Table Tennis Club (ETTC), Dr. Orji Solomon Emeka expressed satisfaction over the level of turnout and participation from the region, revealing that the club have started soliciting for sponsorship towards bringing a national table tennis classic to enugu in december.

Orji, who is also a lecturer at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) further stated that the concept behind hosting the competition was to do something unique for the zone, to unearth and nurture young players to stardom, reaffirming the significance of table tennis in everyday activities.

On his part, secretary general, Nigeria Table Tennis Coaches Association (NTTCA), Niyi Oladipupo emphasised on the areas where the organisers needs to improve upon in subsequent tournaments, noting that the competition lived up to its billing.

However, winner of the veteran’s category, Coach of Team Imo, Christian Nwankwo talked about his preparation and training for the competition, confirming that despite avoiding “Kartica” (coach of enugu state) he is still nursing the ambition of playing him someday.

It would be recalled that about 104 players from the five eastern states and some tennis clubs entered for the competition in five different categories namely, veteran’s, men’s singles, junior boys, junior girls, cadet.