Pastor E.A Table Tennis Championship Will Add Value To Table Tennis, Says Paul Bankole

All is set for the National table tennis championship tagged pastor E A Adeboye Under 20 Table tennis championship organized by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation and the directorate of Sports of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG.

The championship which is part of activities to celebrate the 71st Birthday Anniversary of the spiritual pillar of sports in Nigeria, Pastor Adeboye, who was also an active sports player in his youth days.

Briefing sports journalist at a media parley to usher in the championship which serves off on Tuesday 26th of February, Director of sports, RCCG, Pastor Paul Segun Bankole revealed that about 3000 table tennis payers participated in the preliminaries that took place in almost all the states of the federation and 8 players- 4 boys and 4 girls would represent each states at the National finals which commence on Tuesday at the Redemption Camp.

 He stated that a seminar with the theme "maximizing the potentials of Nigeria youth and teenagers in table tennis toward the 2016 Olympic games; role of the private sector would precede the table tennis finals scheduled for Saturday 2nd of March, 2013 and Important stakeholders in table tennis will be part of the sports seminar.

 The tournament will feature two events - boys and girls singles, Pastor Bankole said the 2014 edition will be structured to accommodate at least 5 if not all 7 events as prescribed and approved by the ITTF.

The Sports Director explained that the church is resolved to make a difference by ensuring that the programme is not one off and it will be a platform kick start a table tennis Academy.

He added that the church is delighted with its contribution to the revival and development of sports in Nigeria as well as grooming of next generation sports man and women.

A mouth watering six million naira will be won by the best players from boys and girls categories as well as trophies and plaques for the top players that reach the podium.