Sports
S’East Open Table Tennis Championship Ends, Today
The 2022 South East inuagural Open Table Tennis Championship served off in Enugu yesterday, the second day, after the screening of players on Wednesday.
The three-day table tennis championship which features veterans, single and cadet categories will end today. Tidesports source reports that Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and some tennis clubs within the region are competing at the event inside the Indoor Sports Hall of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
The championship is organised by the Enugu Table Tennis Club (ETTC) in collaboration with the Enugu State Table Tennis Association (ETTA) and Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The Chairman, Enugu Table Tennis Club, Dr Solomon Orji, stated that it was a dream come true for him and that the competition had really expanded beyond his imaginations.
Orji expressed gratitude to their several partners for their immense support and backings to ensure a successful event.
Ifeanyi Ugwuodo, Enugu State Table Tennis coach, threw more light on the prizes for each category.
He said the winner for cadet, those under 13 years, would go home with cash prize of N70,000, second would receive N50,000 while third would pocket 30,000.
The Men’s singles is N200,000; second, N120,000 and third position will recieve N80,000.
In Junior male and female, the first position would be rewarded with N70,000, second with N50,000 and third position with N30,000, while the grand prize for Veterans had yet to be determined by the organisers.
According to Ugwuodo, 104 players are participating with 31 players featuring in the Men’s single, Nine Junior girls, 22 junior boys, 16 veterans and 26 cadets.
Representative of the Nigeria Table Table Federation (NTTF), Coach Niyi Oladipupo, said he believed that the championship would improve in subsequent editions.
He said that in spite of the hitches and delays during the screening exercise the event would serve its purpose of discovery and grooming of talents from the zone.
Oladipupo applauded the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for throwing its weight behind the event.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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