Offiong Edem Championship launched my table tennis journey – Udoh

Offiong Edem Championship launched my table tennis journey – Udoh

By Akanimo Kufre

Rising table tennis player, Victor Udoh has credited the Offiong Edem Championship with providing the platform that helped shape his competitive career, describing the tournament as a major turning point in his development.

Speaking in an interview, Udoh recalled that his journey into the sport began in 2017 after years of watching players train at the stadium alongside his sister, who first introduced him to table tennis.

"I wasn't playing at first; I only watched others," Udoh said. "As time went by, I fell in love with the sport, and my sister encouraged me to start playing."

His early enthusiasm, however, came at a cost. After just six to eight months of training, his mother asked him to stop because he had become so devoted to table tennis that he neglected his studies and responsibilities at home. He stayed away from the game for about a year before making a determined return in late 2018.

According to Udoh, his passion only grew stronger after his comeback. "Sometimes I skipped classes just to play table tennis," he admitted. "My mom disciplined me several times, and my coach also corrected me because of it. Looking back, I'm grateful because those experiences helped shape me into the person and player I am today." He added that the maiden edition of the Offiong Edem Championship marked his first appearance in the prestigious tournament, giving him valuable competitive exposure.

Since then, Udoh has built an impressive résumé, winning three bronze medals at the Offiong Edem Championship, two gold medals at the Niger Delta Games in Uyo, another gold medal at the Niger Delta Games in Edo, a silver medal at the National Youth Games in Ilorin, bronze medals at the National Youth Games in Asaba, the Efunkoya National Championship in Lagos, and the Daniel Ford International Championship in Lagos.

Victor, Udoh aka Kamela, has also represented Bayelsa State in his major competitions. Looking ahead, Udoh said his ambition is to compete in more national tournaments and eventually represent Nigeria on the international stage. He named Chinese table tennis legend Ma Long as his role model and praised Offiong Edem for investing in the next generation of players.

"She is giving back to the table tennis community and creating opportunities to discover new talents. That's what I admire most about the championship," he said.