GSS Shines As Imo SWAN Table Tennis Championship Ends in Owerri

GSS Shines As Imo SWAN Table Tennis Championship Ends in Owerri

By Tunde Liadi

Government Secondary School, Owerri has emerged as the Champion of the junior and senior singles of the maiden edition of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Imo Chapter's Table Tennis Championship for Secondary Schools and have carted home N350,000 after finishing first and second positions in both categories.

In the same vein, Holy Ghost College, Owerri that ended the competition in third position in both junior and senior singles have been rewarded N100,000.

A competition with the National Secretary of People's Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samdaddy Nnaemeka Anyanwu was hosted at the Bashlyks Sports Centre, Owerri had four schools in attendance. They were: Government Secondary School, Owerri, Holy Ghost College, Owerri, Imperial Secondary School, Ubomiri, Mbaitoli LGA, and St. Joseph Academy, Amaimo, Ikeduru LGA.

At the end of the keenly contested competition, Government Secondary School, Owerri showed they were a class above the other three schools after their both representatives in the junior and senior categories qualified for the finals of both categories.

In the junior category, Government Secondary School's Udochukwu Onwuzuruike in JS 2 defeated the second representative of Government Secondary School, Light Eneme in the final in two straight sets of 11-7, 11-3 to become winner of the N100,000 prize money for the first position. Eneme who settled for second position smiled home with N75,000.

In the third place match of the Junior singles, Asie Chidera of St. Joseph Academy, Amaimo narrowly lost to Holy Ghost College's Emmanuel Obiukwu by 2 sets to 1. Asie won the first set 14-12 pts but Obiukwu was victorious in the next two sets. He won 11-8,14-12 to pick the third position and a cash reward of N50,000.

In the senior singles category, Ifeanyi Onwuzuruike, an SS 2 student of Government Secondary School, Owerri emerged victorious in the final just like his younger brother, Udochukwu did in the junior cadre. The Onwuzuruike senior beat his fellow schoolmate, Uzochukwu Okoro of SS 3 by two sets to nothing (11-8, 12-10 pts) to win the N100,000 prize money while Okoro settled for N75,000 for finishing in second position.

In the third place match of the Senior singles decided, Mitchell Nnadi, an SS 2 student of Holy Ghost College, Owerri came back from a set down to narrowly beat St. Joseph Academy's Njoku Godson. It was Njoku that won the first set 11-6 pts but Nnadi turned a new leaf and beat his opponent, 11-9,12-10 pts to pip his foe to the third spot. His reward was N50,000.

The remaining two schools, St. Joseph Academy, Amaimo, Ikeduru and Imperial Boarding Secondary School, Ubomiri that failed to finish in the top three were rewarded with N10,000 consolation cash gift each for honouring the competition.

Speaking at the event,the headline sponsor of the competition and Patron of the Association,Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu,who was represented by Prof.Protus Nathan Uzoma,said that the essence of the competition was to discover and project new talents,stressing that it was investment in the right direction. He noted that table tennis is a skill,which if acquired could put food on ones table.

He urged the youths not to go into anything that will cause social chaos and he announced the cash reward for winners, runners up and third positions. 

In his remarks at the event,the Chairman of Sports Writers Association Imo State,  Everest Ezihe,stated that the association is poised at reviving and transforming sports from the grassroots.

He disclosed that the association has met with the Sports Commissioner, Honourable Dan Ogu and other stakeholders in sports to intimate them on the need to revive sports in the state.

Ezihe used the medium to call on other bodies to partner with SWAN in grassroot sports development.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Local Organising committee of the competition and SWAN national Financial Secretary, Sampson Orji, disclosed that Table Tennis is neglected in the South East, adding that it is their duty as watchdog of the society to inform the people on the imperatives of grassroot sports development.

He commended Senator Samdaddy Anyanwu,the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Dan Ogu and Elder Aloysius Nnawugo,the Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Diaspora Affairs and others who contributed towards the success of the competition.