Accra, June 9, GNA - Felix Lartey of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and Efua Oforiwaa Owusu - Agyei of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) emerged winners of the Male and Female categories of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) National Seniors Singles Open Championship held at the D. G Hathiramani Sports Hall of the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra.

Lartey won the championship by defeating Samuel Akayade of Koforidua Secondary Technical 3-1 in the finals. Akayade thus finished second with Ernest Quarcoo taking the third position while Adolf Awotwe finished fourth.

The Immigration officer on his way to the finals defeated Ernest Quarcoo of Accra 3-1 in the semi finals and trounced the former champion Derek Abrefa by 3-0 in the quarter finals.

Oforiwaa Owusu on the other hand, defeated Lynda Annor of Immigration Service with a 3-2 victory in the finals of the Female's category, which was also the most exciting event of the day. Oforiwaa Owusu on the way to chalking her feat had to brush off stiff opposition from other Immigration Service officers, Doreen Nortey and Cynthia Kwabi with 3-2 victories in the quarter finals and semi-finals respectively.

Lynda Annor thus finished second with Kwabi placing third while the former national women's champion, Akosua Ketu of Sunyani Polytechnic settled for the fourth position. Lartey and Oforiwaa Owusu took home GH¢100 and a trophy respectively as their prizes.

The second, third and fourth positions in both divisions also took home attractive prizes.

Over 140 table tennis players made up of 115 men and 25 women from across the country and the eight national security services participated in the one-day tournament.

Mr Wolanyo K. Agra, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council (NSC) admonished the athletes to be disciplined and train hard to guarantee them a place in the national team for international assignments.

He commended the GTTA for its foresight and promised of the Council's financial support for the GTTA's proposed National Model teams' weekend training camps, adding that the NSC will ensure recruitment of competent table tennis coaches for each region of Ghana. The GTTA Chairman, Squadron Leader Ebo Bartels (Rtd) who sponsored the event urged the players to remain dedicated to their training. Mr Kwame Amponfi Jnr, GTTA Secretary General, appealed to companies and philanthropist to come on board and support in cash and in kind to help promote the sport in the country.