Accra, Feb 13, GNA - The Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) last Saturday commenced the first of a series of justify-your-inclusion exercise for selection of players into the national table tennis team, the Golden Loopers.

The event held at the Borstal Institute in Accra, saw 45 players including 28 males and 17 females participating in the exercise, which was jointly sponsored by J.A. Binney and Co Limited and Squadron Leader Ebo Bartels, Chairman of the Association.

The GTTA expects to select 12 players at the end of the month-long exercise based on their individual build-up.

At the end of the one day exercise, defending champion, Mohammed Ali of the Ghana Police Service won the male event with Derek Abrefa and Felix Lartey picking the second and third positions respectively. In the female category, Linda Annor eased past sensational Akosua Ketu to emerge the winner with Cecilia Danso placing third. Even though the competition was opened to both local and foreign players, the foreign based players failed to announce their participation in the day old event.

Investigations gathered by the GNA Sports however indicate that they will be joining subsequent justify-your-inclusion exercises. The championship forms part of the nation's preparations towards the All Africa Games scheduled for Algeria in July this year. The GTTA intends sending six players after the exercise to China for a three month intensive training tour. 13 Feb. 07