Less than 48hours to the end of the 48th Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup, players will be aiming to remain in the competition as knockout round begins on Thursday November 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. With 16 men competing for places in the last four while the remain eight women aiming for places in […]
via 48th Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Cup Enters Knockout Stage — newfanzoneblog
The maiden edition of the end-of-the-year Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) organized top 16 Championship tagged President’s Cup serves off today (Wednesday) December 17 at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The N2m prize money two-day tournament has players within and outside the country competing for top spot.
Over 48 matches will be played with foreign-based duo of Seun Ajetunmobi and Olaide Atinuke competing against local stars like Rashidat Ogundele, Kazeem Makanjuola as well as junior sensations – Tosin Oribamise, Ajoke Ojomu, Alimot Ayinla and Onyinyechi Mbah taking part in the championship.
The matches will be played in a round robin format with the top two players progressing to the next stage of the championship. The top eight players will also be drawn into two groups of four each with the top two advancing to the semifinal stage.
Every player listed for the competition will be rewarded with cash while the star prize is N250, 000. For the award, the player of the year as well as the young player of the year will be honoured at the colourful event in the presence of dignitaries.
As part of its efforts to inspire the players to aim higher, eight awards will be handed out to deserving individuals in 2014. These awards are senior player of the year (male and female), junior player of the year (male and female), cadet player of the year (male and female), coach of the year and technical official of the year.
As part of efforts to reward players, coaches and officials in 2014, eight awards have been listed by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) during the end-of-the-year top 16 tournament tagged President’s Cup.
The two-day tournament has players home and abroad competing for the N2m prize money at stake.
Eight awards will be handed out to deserving individuals in 2014 and the awards are:
senior player of the year (male and female)
junior player of the year (male and female)
cadet player of the year (male and female)
coach of the year and technical official of the year.
In a release by the organizers, foreign-based duo of Seun Ajetunmobi and Olaide Atinuke have been listed among the top 16 players expected to feature at the tournament holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Also, Lagos Classics champion, Cecilia Otu-Akpan will also be part of the tournament while former junior national champion, Janet Effiom will be competing against other top players in the competition.
Also, four junior players – Tosin Oribamise, Ajoke Ojomu, Alimot Ayinla and Onyinyechi Mbah will be battling for the top spot against senior players at the championship.
In the list of participants released at the weekend by the organizers, the quartet who just returned from the just concluded World Junior Championship in China has been drawn against some top players in their various groups.
Oribamise, whose performance this year has been encouraging at national level, will battle for the two slots in the group alongside, Portugal-based Atinuke, Bose Odusanya, Kehinde Akinyinka and former Asoju Oba champion, Tolu Durosimi-Etti.
One of the most improved players for this year, Ayinla will confront former junior champion, Janet Effiom, Fatimo Kazeem and Aminat Fashola. Ayinla’s form has made her one of the formidable players that may be promoted to the senior level.
Abuja-based Ojomu will clash against Lagos Classics champion, Cecilia Otu-Akpan, Taiwo Williams and Moji Ajibike.
In her group, Mbah has been handed the toughest task as she will slug it out with 2014 Asoju Oba Cup champion, Fatimo Bello; National Sports Festival champion, Rashidat Ogundele, Funke Hassan and returnee, Halimat Hussein.
The matches will be played in a round robin format with the top two players progressing to the next stage of the championship. The top eight players will also be drawn into two groups of four each with the top two advancing to the semifinal stage.
Every player listed for the competition will be rewarded with cash while the star prize is N250, 000. For the award, the player of the year as well as the young player of the year will be honoured at the colourful event in the presence of dignitaries.
newfanzone 