PRESIDING Pastor of the Christ Embassy, Uyo, Emeka Nnabuko has enjoined all the participants at the Reachout Nigeria Table Tennis to enjoy the competition while gunning for the top prize.Pastor Nnabuko stated that the competition would provide an avenue for the players to exhibit their talents and develop their game.According to him, the competition is part of Christ Embassy's way of developing table tennis in the country just as he noted that he was happy that the church was bankrolling the tourney, and would do it as long as the Lord pleases.'What we are doing as a church is to help in the development of sports by instituting and sponsoring the Reachout Nigeria Table Tennis Championship every year,' he said. 'It is our hope that the competition will continue to produce future stars for the country.'As community service, the programme will also help develop youths in our locality while the extension of invitation to players from neighbouring countries will make the event more competitive and give it international flavour.'Nnabuko noted that the best was yet to come, as he promised to take the competition to a greater height, stating that the competition would produce more champions.Chairman of the Nigeria Table Tennis Umpires and Referee's Association, John Peter, also said that Jide Omotayo of Lagos was the tourney's surprise so far having made it to the quarter final. Peter lauded the Christ Embassy RON Table Tennis initiative as the best thing happening in Nigerian table tennis aimed at bringing back the glory days when Nigeria was Africa's undisputed champion.He added that the competition, which is now in its fourth year, has produced champions, and extolled the host and presiding pastor, Emeka Nnabuko, for his commitment and passion for table tennis, which was in a deplorable state before RON came to resuscitate it.The tourney, which began on Monday, has athletes from different parts of the federation, clubs - both local and international ' and has seen a significant improvement in prize money from N1 million to N2 million in this edition.At the opening ceremony held on Tuesday, a match past involving the team took place at the Loveworld Complex. The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Ita Udo, and his Local Council and Chieftaincy Affairs counterpart, Effiong Abia, graced the opening ceremony.Cecilia Otu took the oaths for the players while international umpire, Offiong Edem, took the oath for the officials. In the women's category, players like Offiong, Otu and Janet Friday of Team Cross River are expected to play renowned names like Hussain Halimat and Atinuke Olaide, both of NSCDC.Over 150 players are taking part in the competition, which ends tomorrow.
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