The ongoing Southeast Open Table Tennis Championship at the indoor sports hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium for the five eastern states and tennis clubs within the region enters day 2 as the competition reaches it’s final stage.
Sports correspondent, Ugo Okeiyi who monitored the events of today noted that 104 players from the zone who registered for the championship would be participating in five different categories namely: men single’s, junior girls, veterans, junior boys and cadets, adding that competition would be used to unearth, access and nuture young talents.
According to the Local Organising Committe (LOC), the overall winner in the men single’s category will cart home the whooping sum of #150,000 and a trophy while the second and joint third position will get #100,000 and #50,000 respectively.
In the same vein, the winner in the cadet/junior category, will definitely smile home with a cash prize of #50,000, the second would be rewarded with #30,000 and joint third position also receives #20,000.
However, in the men’s single’s quarterfinals, ibeh chidera (claik tta) proved too difficult for ekwe johnson (enttc) with his combination of service, side spins and attacks which earned him a spot in the next round of the championship.
Opoto Micheal (anambra) another experience player proved his superiority once more as he emerged victorious against Blessing Agu (abia) in three straight sets in 50 mins while Kosi Michael (Imo) and Okezie Okafor (abia) also recorded victories in their quarterfinal outings.
Similarly, the semifinal junior boys witnessed some exciting and scintillating tennis artistry, as jude godwin (claik tta) came out tops against Eze Arinze in 3-0 sets while Isaac emma (abia) had to come from behind to edge pass mike chukwuemeka (Imo) in 3-1 sets.
Also in the semifinals of the cadets series, one of the revelations of the tournament, 13 year-old Desbordes Eberechukwu (ngwo ttc) has proven to be a standout act and a future potential, as he outclassed his opponent in three straight sets while Amobi Francis (ebonyi), lost to jude godwin (claik tta) in 3-1 sets.
Anuo Nmesoma (claik tta) emerged winner in the female category defeating her counterpart, Adile Chinaza (anambra) in three straight sets in 35 mins, with chinenye okafor (abia) and ozioma nwife (abia) placing third and fourth respectively.
Meanwhile, tomorrow event which will be the climax of the event will see veterans take center sage, as well as the finals of the categories, awards presentation and closing ceremony.
