C/River, partners holds maiden Taekwando, table tennis championships

NAN-S-2
Championships
By Dianabas Effiong
Calabar, Jan. 13, 2017 (NAN) The Cross River Sports Commission has reiterated the state government’s resolve to partner with the private sector to encourage young people to embrace Taekweando and table tennis sports.

The Chairman of the commission, Orok Duke, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Friday.

Duke said that commission was partnering with the Royal International Farms and Estates Limited, a privately-owned company, to flag off the first Calabar Open Taekwando and Table Tennis championships.

He said the championships slated for Jan. 19 to Jan. 21 and Feb. 8 to Feb.10, respectively, was aimed at discovering  new talents to be groomed for national and international competitions.

Duke also said that there was the need for corporate and individual support in the development of sports as government could no longer shoulder all the responsibilities.

“It is obvious that government cannot do it alone, so, we appreciate any corporate body that offers assistance.

“The concentration of the sponsors of this taekwondo and table tennis championships is on the grassroots.

“We have already contacted the Akwa Ibom Government who are willing to provide some of the materials needed,’’ he said.

Duke also disclosed that the commission had identified 43 sports that would be promoted, adding that taekwondo and table tennis championships would be the starting points.

He said that other championships lined up between January and June this year, included the Prof. Ben Ayade Under-15 Football Championship and Etubom Charles Duke Lawn Tennis Championship, among others.

The General Manager, Royal International Farms and Estates Limited, Usen Umoh, who spoke on behalf of the sponsors, told NAN that the events would positively engage talented youths.

Umoh said that budding stars and young talents were expected to participate at the taekwando event which was the first in Calabar.

According to him, the table tennis championship will involve participants from primary and secondary schools across the state.

He said that the sponsorship for the event was also in partnership with First Royal Micro-finance Bank and Triple Star Printing Press Limited.

“We intend to use the two championships to discover new talents in the state and groom them for national, continental and international glories,’’ Umoh said. (NAN)
DOE/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha