Muslims across the length and breadth of Ghana celebrated Eid al Fitr on 28th June 2023 which is known as the festival of breaking the fast. It’s an occasion of merry and reaching out to friends and loved ones.
It was in this spirit of merriness and reaching out to loved ones that the executives of the Veterans Table Tennis Association of Ghana organized their 4th Veterans Mixed doubles championship at the Seven Great Princes Academy in Dansoman.
The competition saw 8 mixed doubles teams divided into two groups competing in the best of 5 matches for the trophy and above all the opportunity to ink one’s name in the history books of the veterans.
Divine Nkrumah and Eva Adom Amankwa emerged victorious after defeating Justice Nkrumah Ninson and Cecilia Frema by three games to two (3:2) in a contest that had the attention of the spectators glued to the action from beginning to end.
In an interview with Eva Adom Amankwa she indicated “My partner was so energized he brought the best out of me. I needed him to defend every ball while I attack and he did exactly that.”
Justice and Frema have been partners since the inception of mixed doubles competitions organized by the Veterans Table Tennis Association of Ghana, and have developed a synergy synonymous with players who understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They were able to rally from a two games deficit in the semi-finals against Lord Kinful and his prodigy Blessing Labanti, to win by three games to two (3:2). They carried their momentum into the final which saw them succumb to Divine and Eva in an encounter which was befitting of a final.
Joanita and Vanderpuye lost to Divine and Eva in a semifinal encounter which ended at eighteen points to sixteen (18:16) in the fifth game in favor of Divine and Eva. The contest was a pulsating encounter offering lots of excitement to the spectators.
Lord Kinful and his student Blessing Labanti who is ranked as the sixth-best female player in West Africa, could not capitalize on their two games advantage against Justice and Frema in the semi-finals.
In an interview with the executives of the Veterans Table Tennis Association of Ghana, they indicated that the 4th Veterans Mixed Doubles championship which is an annual event was keenly contested and an indication of the players maturing and developing an understanding of the game of table tennis. They, therefore, encouraged all players to endeavor to take part in the next episode.
footage of the final match