Volta Premier Fm
By: Christian Sowada
Felix Lartey and Cynthia Kwabi emerged champions of the inaugural Asogli Table Tennis Challenge, solidifying their positions as Ghana’s top table tennis players. The tournament took place at Mawuli School in Ho, Volta region, on September 21, 2023.
Over 150 national table tennis players from across Ghana participated in the event, which was held in conjunction with the Asogli Yam festival. The tournament was organized in partnership with the Volta Regional Table Tennis Association (VTTA) and sponsored by Stanbic Bank and SIC Ghana.
In the men’s final, Felix Lartey, the highest-ranked male player in Ghana (world ranked 352), defeated Isaac Davis, the second-best player in the country (world ranked 388), in a straight-set victory (3-0). Lartey walked away with GHc2,500 in prize money and earned 150 points for his national ranking.
In the women’s category, Cynthia Kwabi, Ghana’s top-ranked female player, claimed the championship title and the GHc2,500 prize by defeating Celia Baah Danso in a 3-0 victory. In a display of sportsmanship, Celia conceded the third set due to Cynthia’s injury sustained in the previous sets. Kwabi also earned 150 points to improve her national ranking.
Isaac Davis and Celia Baah Danso, the runners-up in the men’s and women’s categories respectively, received GHc1,500 in prize money and earned 120 points each. The athletes who finished in 3rd and 4th place received GHc800 and 100 points, while those in 5th to 8th place earned GHc400 and 60 points. Participants who placed 9th to 16th were awarded GHc250 and points.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu, the President of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), announced that the Asogli Table Tennis Challenge would become an annual event on the GTTA calendar. He expressed gratitude to Togbe Afede XIV, the paramount chief of the Asogli Traditional area, as well as other stakeholders and sponsors of the tournament.
Mr. Afadzinu also revealed that the GTTA would donate the LED lights used in the assembly hall to Mawuli School as a token of appreciation.
