Sports
Reis Table Tennis Tourney To Serve Off, May
Organisers of the annual Reis Table Tennis Tournament have increased the total prize money for the competition from N100,000 to N250,000, Tidesports source reports.
The increment will take effect from the second edition, which holds from May 24 to 27 in the Oba of Lagos Sports Hall, Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos,
Speaking at a press conference to herald the tournament, the founder and convener of tourney, Olaseni Reis, said the ultimate aim of the tournament is to build lives through sports.
He said table tennis players will compete in six categories the men and women category while in cadet category involving male and female, the veterans featuring 64 players and Eko Club presenting 32 players.
Over 400 players are expected to take part at this year’s edition as participants are expected nationwide.
Reis further disclosed that scholarship program will be set aside for outstanding players while the sum of two hundred thousand Naira (N250,000) and one hundred and fifty thousand (N150,000) been set aside for the overall winners in the male and female categories respectively.
“The tournament provides an avenue for grassroot to participate in sports thereby taking them off the streets.
“We will adopt 10 stars that emerge from this year’s competition. Two talents would also be sent to the academy and would be placed on scholarship,” Reis said.
“The veteran category is a way of giving back to those that have played the game in the past.
Highlighting the mission of the of the tournament, Abimbola Reis said their mission is to develop and promote healthy competition among young individuals while instilling positive values that will shape their future and make them assets to the development of the sport at the grassroots level.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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