Femi Oke, Delta’s Head Coach at the 2017 National Table Tennis Championships/Commonwealth Selection Trials, on Tuesday praised members of the state team to the event for their remarkable performance.
Oke told TheNewsGuru in Lagos that their performance was boosted by the State Sports Festival which was held just before the trials.
TNG reports that Delta topped the championships’ medals table in the para events with 16 medals from the eight classes featured at the competition.
Oke also told TNG that the Delta government had been very supportive of efforts greared towards the development of sports.
“Although I am not too surprised by the performances of our players, because I expected nothing less, but we have been consistent in training and the state’s sports festival really helped us.
“Some newly-discovered players from the festival were part of the Lagos championships and with their commitment to training they have been able to win medals for the state.
“We were the only state to have had our state sports festival in recent times,’’ he said.
The coach also applauded the NTTF for a well-organised championships, adding that the seminar which was held before the commencement of the championships was very educative.
TNG reports that the seminar involved players, coaches, referees and umpires present for the competition, and current rules were thoroughly examined for the good of the championships.
“The championships was well organised by every standard. Rules were applied in totality, while both the players and officials conducted themselves well.
“Also, the provision of adequate security, medicals and standard officiating were the remarkable part of it,’’ Oke said.
The championships, which featured events in the able-bodied and para categories, was held from Dec. 10 to Dec. 16 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos.
It was held under the auspices of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation