By Akpan David, Calabar
Thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Emenike of Abia State has set her sights on becoming Africa’s number one player in the U-15 category after emerging champion in the U-13 female event at the just-concluded sixth edition of the Edem Offiong Table Tennis Championship in Calabar, Cross River State.
Emenike, who defeated a number of established young players to claim the title, said her next target was to dominate the African youth category and make a strong impact in the U-15 age group.
“I want to become African number one in U-15 this year and eventually become a top player in the senior category,” she said.
The young paddler said her interest in table tennis developed several years ago, with her parents playing a key role in helping her begin her career.
“I became interested in table tennis a few years ago. My parents helped me approach an academy, and they accepted me. They have always encouraged me,” she said.
According to her, her parents also supported her participation in major youth competitions, including the Atanda Musa Tournament, National Youth Games and ITTF Youth Championships in Nigeria and Ghana.
She said her performances at those competitions gave her valuable experience, adding that she had won silver and gold medals in youth events held in Lagos and Ghana.
Emenike, however, admitted that she was initially nervous when Abia State entered her for the Edem Offiong Championship, particularly because of the calibre of players she was expected to face.
“When my state came for this Offiong Edem tournament, I was afraid I was going to lose because of the big names I was going to meet. I was even discouraged,” she recalled.
But the teenager said she overcame her fears through determination and went on to defeat the defending champion to secure the U-13 female title.
“I remained determined and, luckily, I beat the previous champion to clinch the top prize,” she said.
Emenike’s latest triumph adds to her growing record in youth table tennis and underlines her ambition to progress from the national youth circuit to the continental and senior stages of the sport.
