The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has staked N4.5m for the 2021 National Championships taking place on May 18 to 22 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
According to a statement released by the federation, the prize money for the five-day tournament will be broken down to include all the 12 events to be contested by the players in the cadet, U-21, men, women, and veteran divisions.
Winners in team and doubles events will get N200,000 and N100,000 respectively and quarterfinalists in each event will earn a minimum of N50,000 each, winners in men and women singles events will earn N250,000 each while U-21 and cadet champions carting N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Speaking with journalists ahead of the competition, Fatima Bello, who is in blistering form having finished top at both Edo 2020 and Aso Championship, vowed to continue her dominance on the women division.
“We are coming to Lagos to give our very best again because I must remain on top of my game as there are no pushovers in the game again. Everybody wants to become champion but it is a bit tougher to remain on top,” she said.
On his part, John Peters, the referee for the competition, assured of the fierce contest between the old guards and new ones.
“I must tell you that new players are emerging especially at junior level as players from Kwara and Ogun are on top of their game and they are ready to dethrone former champions,” Peters said.
“I am hopeful that it will be explosive in Lagos as more players have confirmed their intention to be part of the show in Lagos.”
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