By Tilda Acorlor
Ghana’s top seeds, Felix Lartey and Cynthia Kwabi put up stellar performances in the male and female categories to win the maiden Asogli Table Tennis Challenge in Ho, the Volta Regional Capital.
This is the first time a national tournament of this magnitude has been staged in the region, with over 150 Table Tennis players across Ghana participating.
The Asogli Table Tennis Championship forms part of the Ghana Table Tennis Association’s (GTTA) preparation activities for the upcoming 2023 Africa Games scheduled for next year and the rankings for players in the sport.
Sixteen top performers were rewarded after the tournament.
Felix Lartey produced a top-notch performance throughout the group stages, the quarter-finals, and the semis, he booked a spot in the finals against Isaac Davis, who also put up an outstanding show.
He defeated him in 3 straight sets (3-0) to win the highest prize of GHC 2,500 plus 150 points.
Lartey dedicated his win to his 12-year-old son, Samuel Lartey, and said he is committed to improving on his performance to represent Ghana at the African Games 2023 and beyond.
“I dedicate this win to my son, who is 12 years old today, he is on vacation I will buy him books with this money,” Felix Lartey said.
“I will go back to the US to improve on my performance and game to represent and win laurels for Ghana ahead of the African Games,” He added.
In the women’s final, Cynthia Kwabi dominated 2 sets before her feet became numb in the third game.
The umpire allowed for two separate break times to asses Cynthia Kwabi’s setback, on her return to continue to play Celia gave in to allow the third set to come to an end.
A display of sportsmanship Cynthia described as incredible after winning the women’s category, earning 150 points with a cash prize of GHC2500.00
“ I am very excited to have won the Asogli Table Tennis Challenge, we just came back from Tunisia for an African Championship, and the performance and exposure were able to push me to win this championship,” Cynthia Kwabi said.
On her injury and performance, Cynthia recounted the stress and aggressive play from her previous and immediate game in Tunisia and praised her colleague, Celia Baah Danso for great sportsmanship.
“Celia really did very well I wasn’t expecting her to leave the game for me at the final, and winning her 2 down and the third game 6-4 which was not over, and when I was injured she just left the game. I thank and appreciate her for doing that. It was great sportsmanship,” she said.
Issac Davis and Celia Baah Danso, as runner-ups, earned 120 points and took home GHS1,500.00 each.
The 3rd to 4th placed participants accumulated 100 points with GHC800 each, while the 5th to 8th and 9th to 16th positions all gained 60 and 40 points with cash prizes of GHC400.00 and GHC250.00, respectively.
