…Thanks Chairman of Canaan Table Tennis Club, Rt Hon Orok Duke for his unwavering support
By Kelvin Obambon
Canaan Table Tennis Club of Calabar star, Hope Udoaka, has been crowned the National Women’s Champion at the 10th edition of the ELICRIS National Table Tennis Top 32 Invitational Championship organized by the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and BAA Foundation.
Udoaka defeated Sukurat Aiyelebegan 4-2 in the finals to retain her national championship title.
Speaking shortly after the game, the star player attributed the success to the unwavering support and commitment of the Chairman of Canaan Table Tennis Club, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke towards grooming players in Cross River and pushing them up to compete in national and international competitions.
“All thanks to God and Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, Chairman of Canaan Table Tennis Club for making it possible for me to attend this invitational championship. All thanks to him for his support so far in bringing up players from Cross River State. It’s a thing of joy to announce that I once again defended the title,” she said.
Reacting to the win, Chairman of Canaan Table Tennis Club, Rt Hon Orok Duke, congratulated Udoaka and commended her for displaying uncommon athleticism throughout the competition.
He said Udoaka’s triumph not only showcased her skill and determination but also represents a significant achievement for Canaan Table Tennis Club of Calabar.
The 10th ELICRIS invitational championship which took place at the Sir Chief Molade Okoya Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, brought together top table tennis talents from across Nigeria. Players arrived on Sunday, 22nd December 2024, and matches commenced on Monday, 23rd and concluded on Tuesday, 24th December 2024.
The event featured Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles categories across two divisions: the Open category and the U-19 category. A total of 64 players (32 men and 32 women) were invited, alongside reserves. Matches were played in two stages: a group stage featuring round-robin games and a knockout stage.
The round-robin matches and initial knockout rounds were decided over five games, while semi-final and final matches were played over seven games.