₦1.5M Up for Grabs as Inaugural North Central Youth Table Tennis Event Serves Off In Abuja

₦1.5M Up for Grabs as Inaugural North Central Youth Table Tennis Event Serves Off In Abuja 

By Niyi Busari 

The inaugural North Central Boys and Girls Table Tennis Championship has officially kicked off at the Abuja Sports Complex, Old Parade Ground, Area 10, with 48 young athletes competing for honours and a share of the prize money, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The two-day tournament, fully sponsored by Barrister Hamidu Ali Ibrahim, features 24 boys and 24 girls vying for top spots in three categories: Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.

Matches in the Singles category began at 11:00 am on Wednesday at the Indoor Sports Hall, progressing from the first round through to the quarterfinals. The finals are scheduled to take place on Thursday. The Doubles will also commence today and on the same day the semifinals will also be played.

Winners in the Singles event will receive a cash prize of ₦150,000, while the first runner-up and third-place finisher will take home ₦100,000 and ₦50,000 respectively.

In the Doubles category, the champions will earn ₦100,000, with second and third place receiving ₦70,000 and ₦50,000 respectively.

In addition to the prize money, Barrister Ibrahim has covered the accommodation, feeding, and transportation costs for all participants, further underlining his commitment to grassroots sports development.

The championship is aimed at discovering and nurturing young talents in the North Central region, while promoting the growth of table tennis among youth in Nigeria.