By Ikenna Nwokedi
Sochima Okafor and Paul Chinedu Nwosu have emerged champions of the Under-15 and Under-18 categories of the two-day organized maiden edition of the 1st Umudioka Table Tennis Competition and Talent Hunt in Awka.
The board game event which took place on Saturday, 26th and Sunday, 27th April, 2025 at the Ndichie Hall, Umudioka Village, Awka in Awka South Local Government Area of the state had over 80 athletes featuring in the U-15 and U-18 male categories while the competition also accommodated competitions for the adults.
In the U-15 category final match, Sochima Okafor defeated Emmanuel Okafor by two sets to nil (11-5,11-7) to emerge champions while Paul Chinedu Nwosu in the U-18 category kept his composure to see off the challenge from Chukwudi Nwanne with the clash ending two sets to one (13-11, 11-9, 12-10). Ndubuisi Chinaza Paul came tops in the category for adults as he saw off Emeka Igwenagu in the final match.
The competition which is an initiative of Chief Anene Ebeze is being bankrolled by concerned individuals of Umudioka Village geared towards unearthing talents in the village and Awka community by extension with a view of creating a Table Tennis club.
Speaking to sports journalists at the competition venue, the facilitator of the competition, Chief Anayo Obiakor popularly known as ‘Opia Awka’ disclosed that the competition was geared towards promoting the board game of Table Tennis, unearthing talents domiciled in the grassroots and creating a Table Tennis club in Umudioka Village and by extension the entire Awka Community.
Chief Obiakor informed that the competition which is holding for the first time has come to stay and in subsequent editions will be bigger and better as the organizers would seek for sponsors and as well as incorporate the female version of game.
Obiakor said: “The Umudioka Table Tennis Competition is a child of circumstance birthed for the essence of sports growth and development using the instrumentality of the board game of Table Tennis. Today, we are delighted that the competition is holding and over 80 athletes are featuring in the competition cum talent hunt.
“We want to have a Table Tennis club here that will further aid the growth of the game, I must acknowledge the member reperesenting Awka South Constituency 1, Engr. Nigeria Henry Mbachu for the donation of the Table Tennis boards, the state Table Tennis Coach, Ogonna Ibeh and others who also contributed towards the success of the project,” Obiakor said.
In his reaction, Patrick Estate Onyedum, Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC) lauded the organizers for the vision behind floating the competition. Hon. Onyedum who was represented by Mr. Chika Aka stated that the advent of the competition is in line with the sports solution initiatives of the ASSDC. The ASSDC boss advised the organizers to ensure they sustain the momentum while congratulating the winners for emerging victorious.
On his part, the Chairman of Awka South Local Government Council, Hon. Prince Chinedu Okafor commended the organizers for creating the competition which will help to discover talented table tennis players in Umudioka Village and Awka community. Hon. Okafor who was represented by Hon. Kingsley Ikebudu, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on youths, sports and special duties promised his administration’s support towards the noble project. The same view was also echoed by the Chairman APGA Awka Ward 3, Hon. Okwuchukwu Nweke.
Highpoints of the occasion was the decoration of the athletes in the top three positions in each categories by the ASSDC boss with brand new spin bats, medals, exercise books and trophies to the champions as well as a series of photo sessions between the athletes and the organizers.
