NAN-S-9
Table tennis
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, May 27, 2017 (NAN) Henry Onasanya of Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on Saturday in Abuja emerged winner of the first edition of the NUJ FCT/Chinese Embassy Table Tennis Tournament.
Adebola Sunday of NTA came second while Tomilayo Adedeji of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) came third in the event which took place at the Chinese Cultural Centre premises.
The tournament which saw each media organisation’s chapel of the NUJ presenting three players to represent them had Information winning a trophy and a cash prize of N50,000.
NTA won a trophy and N30,000 cash prize, while NAN also won a trophy and a cash prize of N20,000.
Presenting the prizes, Lin Jing, Cultural Counsellor and Director of China Cultural Centre, said the tournament was to further strengthen the Nigeria-China relationship.
Lin, who represented the Chinese Ambassador, Dr Zhou Pingian, congratulated the winners, as well as the other participants in the tournament.
“You have demonstrated your sportsmanship and friendship in the tournament,” he said.
Lin said the tournament was to commemorate one of Chinese great poets who died 2,000 years ago.
He said table tennis holds a very important place in the health of the Chinese people.
Lin said the fact that sports was a veritable tool which could help to strengthen relationship brought about the need for the competition.
He then announced the presentation of two table tennis boards with all its full accessories to the NUJ.
NAN reports that journalists from 12 media houses, as well as Chinese embassy staff and members of the Chinese media, took part in the one-day tournament.(NAN)
DE/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)