Accra, Oct 7, GNA - The Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has extended invitation to table tennis players across the country to participate in this year's Homowo National Juniors and Cadet Open Championship and the National Seniors Invitational Championship. The two competitions are fixed for the D.G Hathiramani Sports Hall at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium, Accra.
Kwame Ampofi Jr, General Secretary of the GTTA told the GNA Sports that the Homowo National Juniors and Cadet Open Championship will be held on Friday October 17-18, whilst the National Seniors Invitational Championship was scheduled for between 23RD - 25TH October. He said the first competition is to select and draft talented players into the junior national teams and Cadet teams for international competitions adding that players below 15 and 18 years are expected to participate in the Juniors and Cadet Championship respectively. The General Secretary however added the junior players would be expected to must attach their birth certificates or passports to their registration forms to confirm their ages and that participants are expected to finance their participation since it is an open championship.
Amponfi Jr said the National Senior Invitational Championship is also aimed at selecting players into the senior national team (the Black Loopers) for international competitions. According to the General Secretary, each region will have seven slots, three each for the male and female categories as well as a coach, whilst each of the security services will also be provided with seven slots with three each going for the male and female categories and a coach.
He said individual seasoned players can sponsor themselves to participate in the competition. Amponfi Jr however noted that accommodation, feeding and transportation of all accredited Regional and Security Services teams will be catered for by the National Sports Council and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.
He called on the Regional Sports Development Officers and Regional Table Tennis Coaches of the National Sports Council as well as Sports Officers of the eight (8) National Security Services and Regional Table Tennis Association Chairmen to co-operate with the GTTA Secretariat for a successful championship.
The General Secretary said attractive prizes will be provided by the National Sports Council and the Ministry to deserving players.