All is now set for the fifth edition of the Offiong Edem Table Tennis Competition holding at the table tennis hall of the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar, Cross River State.
Players from nine states in the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones are participating, five time Olympian, Offiong Edem, has disclosed
Edem, told sport writers in Calabar that the competition which has N2.5 million worth of prizes would also see the distribution of table tennis equipment worth about N10 million.
The Olympian who is currently a table tennis coach in the United States of America after retiring from the game in 2024 said she organises the tourney annually to ensure that the game does not die in Nigeria.
According to her, “I am interested in producing other Offiong Edems by encouraging the young talents and sharing what I have with them.”
She said although in the last four years, the competition had always featured players from the South-South and South-East zones, she, hoped to make it a national event come 2026.
The table tennis star noted that her challenge in the sport had always been poor support for players in getting the kits which are expensive and going for competitions to make them better.
“The government cannot sponsor table tennis alone; the private sector needs to come in explaining that she is trying hard to replicate herself in the upcoming table tennis talents in the nation.
It is sad to see our players qualify for international competitions but cannot go for these competitions because they have no sponsorship and only playing locally cannot make you a better player, she regretted.
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On why she retired from the game, the former national team player said her decision was based on the fact that it was time for younger players to take the stage.
The multiple gold medalist at the African Games said she had also played in all major competitions from the Olympics to the CommonWealth Games, African Games and other international competitions and believes it was time to quit.
On his part, Mr Usen Umoh, the Vice Chairman of the Cross River Table Tennis Federation said the only way to take many young people off the street was by providing sports facilities.
Umoh maintained that Offiong Edem like other stars comes from a humble background but today has grown to be a helping hand to others by providing 75 pairs of rubber for upcoming talents which cost about N200,000 per pair.
