Olympian, Celicia Akpan on Sunday beat Rivers State Fatima Bello to emerge the best player in the female category of the Nigeria Table Tennis Championships in Lagos.
In the final match, an experienced Akpan humbled two times NTTF finalist, Bello 11-5, 11-6 ,11-9, 13-11 to retain the title in less than forty-five minutes. In the maiden edition of the competition last year Cecilia Akpan also defeated Fatima Bello 4-1. The Cross Rivers player had beaten African Youth Champion, Esther Oribamise by 4-3 points in the Semifinals.
Meanwhile, Ayanwale Jamiu defeated Mati Taiwo of Ondo state 4-3 (8-11, 12-10, 16-14, 4-11, 11-7, 4-11,12-10) in a thriller to win the Junior Boys Singles title for the second time in two years.
Taiwo who won silver was adjudged the most improved player at the 2017 ITTF Nigeria Open in August.
The win for Jamiu is a ticket to be part of the players for the selection trial ahead of the Commonwealth games in Gold Coast next year.
