African Tennis Champion, Otu Akpan Dedicates Victory to Imoke

by crossriverwatch admin

The reigning African Table Tennis Champion, Cecilia Otu Akpan, has dedicated her victory to Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke.

She emerged champions at the just concluded Lagos International Table Tennis Classics (LTTC) at the weekend at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium Lagos.

She emerged number one in Africa by beating her counterpart, Edem Offiong, in the women’s single event final 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 to cart away the prize money.

Speaking with reporters on arrival at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar yesterday, with the trophy she won, Akpan said the feat was made possible with the support of Imoke and therefore dedicated the trophy to the governor and all lovers of sports in the country.

“I thank our sports loving Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for sponsoring me to the championship and I am happy I did not let him down.

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“God helped me to defeat the high and mighty in the game, including the Chinese Zin Hang. People say my reflexes are sharp, and maybe, because I attack ferociously and heavy when I have the chance.

“In the finals, I played against my sister, Offiong Edem, the current All African Games Champion, and it was very tough because she knows my weak points and I know hers, but God saw me through,” she submitted.

On her plans for the future, she expressed determination to step up her training, stressing, “there is a competition
in Uyo on September 25, I shall train very hard because I need to defend my title. Training is the only magic in sports”.

She said with arrays of very strong players the country is blessed with in table tennis, “we shall very soon make our impact felt significantly during the Olympics and other international events.”

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