The National Sports Authority (NSA) provided support to Ghana’s senior National Table Tennis Team, the ‘Black Loopers’ who are currently competing at the ongoing 2021 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African championships in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The NSA assisted the team with air tickets (round trip) for Four (4) players, one male player and three female players as well as their coach for the trip before their departure to Cameroon on Tuesday August 31, 2021 as Ghana participates in her first ITTF African championships since 2008.
Ghana’s contingent is made up of Derek Abrefa, Emmanuel Asante, Emmanuel Ofori and Emmanuel Commey, all of the male team. The female team is represented by Cynthia Kwabi. The team is coached by Anthony Owusu Ansah with President of the Ghana Table Tennis Association, Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu, leading them in Cameroon.
The tournament, which began on Wednesday September 01, 2021 saw Ghana reach the Quarterfinals in the Team Event which ended yesterday. Team Ghana advanced to the last eight after beating Kenya 3-1 in their second match of the day but eventually finished 7th out of a pool of 16 countries.
Ghana’s team was made up of Derek Abrefa and Emmanuel Commey, the experienced half of the team and Emmanuel Asante, newly promoted youngster as well as Emmanuel Ofori who is another youngster full of prospect and pedigree.
Derek Abrefa, the team’s captain, won two matches, a 3-0 win against Kennedy Kojal and another 3-0 victory against Kenya’s number one Brian Mutua helped the team to advance. However, Emmanuel Ofori lost his match against Brian Mutua but Emmanuel Asante’s 3-2 victory over Josiah Wandera boosted Abrefa’s lead.
After the Team-Event, the players focused on the singles which took place at the Versatile Sports Palace in Yaounde where 4 out of the 5 players representing Ghana progressed to the last 32 stage.
For the Women’s Singles, Cynthia Kwabi put up a spirited performance at the round of 64 to beat Motlhalamme Tshepang of Botswana by 4-1.
In the Men’s Singles, ace tennis player Derek Abrefa excelled in his encounter with Ndikum Asaah Prosper of Cameroon beating the Cameroonian by 4-1. Asante Emmanuel also reached the last 32 after defeating Kenya’s Wandera Josiah 4-1. However, Ofori Emmanuel lost his battle against Boudjadja Mohammed Sofiene of Algeria by 4-1.
The tournament, which is being used to assess and prepare Ghana’s Table Tennis Team ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England and also, the 2023 African Games in Ghana will end on the 7th of September 2021.
By: Stephen Afful/NSA